Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, of Brookhaven, took the oath of office Sunday to serve Mississippi for her first full term for the next six years in the 117^th Congress.

Hyde-Smith was reelected in November.

Vice President Mike Pence officiated the swearing-in ceremonies from the Senate floor with reelected and new senators taking the oath in order of seniority.

“It is a great privilege and honor to serve all Mississippians, and I remain grateful for the trust of my state. The serious challenges facing our great state and nation will take dedicated commitment. I will continue to be faithful to that mission, and do everything I can to help build a stronger Mississippi and country as we overcome this global pandemic and look forward to a brighter, prosperous future,” she said.

Hyde-Smith’s husband Michael and daughter Anna-Michael attended the ceremonies, which were modified to meet COVID-19 safety precautions.

Hyde-Smith is the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Washington, D.C.  The former Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce has served in the U.S. Senate since April 2018 after being appointed by then-Governor Phil Bryant to the fill the seat following U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s retirement. She won a special election and runoff in November 2018 to fulfill the remaining two years of Cochran’s term.