Chiesa Sworn In as New Jersey’s New Senator

WASHINGTON (AP) —
Jeffrey Chiesa on Monday stands for the ceremonial swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Jeffrey Chiesa on Monday stands for the ceremonial swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Jeffrey Chiesa (kee-AY’-sah) of New Jersey is the Senate’s newest member, but he’ll only be around for four months.

The 47-year-old Republican is taking his seat Monday after a swearing-in ceremony led by Vice President Joe Biden. GOP Gov. Chris Christie appointed his state attorney general to the seat last week after longtime Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s death.

“I have work to do to learn about the institution and about the issues,” said Chiesa. “I’m getting my legs steadied underneath me and I’ll do everything I can to fulfill my obligation to the people that I represent.”

A longtime Christie colleague, Chiesa has never held or run for political office and will not seek Lautenberg’s former seat in the special election. The special election in October is to fill the seat until the term expires in January 2015.

Chiesa arrives as the Senate tackles a bipartisan immigration overhaul this week that would offer a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the country illegally. He’s described himself as a conservative who favors putting border security first on immigration.

“Senator Chiesa comes at a time in which we are having some momentous debates in this nation,” said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). He added that Chiesa would be casting some “critical votes” in the coming months and that he looked forward to working with him.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called Christie’s pick of Chiesa a “wise appointment.”

Chiesa will be the first Republican to represent New Jersey in the Senate since 1982 when Nicholas Brady was chosen by Gov. Tom Kean to serve out a term after Harrison Williams resigned amid scandal. New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972.

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