(Vice-President Kamala Harris administers the oath of office for U.S. Senate President Pro Tem to Senator Patty Murray)
Another layer of the “glass ceiling” is broken as U.S. Senator Patty Murray becomes the first woman Senate President Pro Tem. With Senate Resolution 3 for this brand new Congress accepted without objection, the Washington State Democrat assumes one of the most important roles in the Senate.
Murray says she first decided to run after watching an all-male Senate Judiciary Committee question Anita Hill about sexual harassment during Clarence Thomas’s Supreme Court confirmation and thinking she would have asked different questions. It’s also well known in Washington that a male state lawmaker telling her that she couldn’t make a difference because she was “just a mom in tennis shoes” was a big part of her inspiration to run “to make a difference for my country”, and “to change Congress,” Murray says, “I hope that when young women now see me in this position, they see they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.”
As third in the Presidential line of succession, it’s unlikely Murray would rise to the job, but she says she’ll remain prepared just in case. That includes staying up-to-date on both domestic and foreign issues and receiving regular briefings. At the time of publication, the U.S. House was adjourned after Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, failed on three votes to secure a win as the next House Speaker. Until a Speaker is chosen, Senator Murray is second in line for the Presidency, which means if both the President and Vice-President should be unable to fulfill their duties, Murray would become President of the United States.
You can watch Senator Murray’s virtual press conference after her swearing in below:
