Minnesota Lt Gov Tina Smith Will Replace Al Franken In US Senate

Updated at 11:50 a.m. ET

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith has been appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Al Franken's upcoming resignation.

Smith, a Democrat, will serve until January 2019. She also plans to run in a special election next year to serve out the entirety of Franken's term, which ends in 2020, according to a source who spoke to Minnesota Public Radio.

As MPR reports:

"Smith has served as Minnesota's 48th lieutenant governor since January 2015. [Gov. Mark] Dayton picked Smith, who was his chief of staff, to be his running mate as he began the campaign for a second term.

"'Though I never anticipated this moment, I'm resolved to do everything I can to move Minnesota forward,' Smith told reporters." ...

"Smith has been at the forefront on several administration priorities, including rural broadband expansion, early childhood education and economic development. She leads the Destination Medical Center initiative, a public-private economic development partnership in Rochester, Minn."

It's not clear exactly when Smith will take over from Franken. On Dec. 7, he said he would resign "in the coming weeks."

Multiple women have accused Franken of unwanted sexual conduct, including groping and forced kissing. His resignation comes amid a raft of allegations of misconduct against powerful men, many of whom have faced serious consequences.

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