Harris resigning from the Senate on Monday

[brucejoel99]

She really took her time.

You're not kidding

https://twitter.com/NilesGApol/status/1350839998338183169

[brucejoel99]

So will Padilla be inaugurated with Ossoff and Warnock on the 20th?

Unconfirmed at this time, although given that the Senate's reconvening at 1pm on Wednesday is gonna directly conflict with Harris' already-announced participation in the post-inaugural address farewell to Pence, Pass in Review, wreath laying ceremony at Arlington, & virtual parade, I personally think (& am potentially backed up by the AP on this) that swearing all of them in might just end up being Pence's last official act as VP sometime on Tuesday afternoon if Raffensperger & Kemp act fast enough to certify earlier in the day.

[brucejoel99]

Kinda screwed Padilla over with seniority. He could have been sworn in before the entire 2020 intake, and instead he'll be tied for last with Ossoff and Warnock. Oh well. I guess those things don't really matter much anymore.

Because of outgoing Senators often resigning early to give their replacements an edge in seniority, the Senate adopted a rule in 1980 that caused such added days of service to be ignored for purposes of determining seniority. I don't know if this will apply to a situation like Harris', but if it does then Padilla's start of service for purposes of Senate seniority would be January 20 regardless of when Harris resigned.

That rule would only apply in the case of a retiring Senator resigning from their seat after their successor was already elected so that they can be appointed ahead of when they would've otherwise taken office on Jan. 3rd in order to get a head start on seniority. Since Harris is resigning in the middle of her elected term, this is just a normal temporary vacancy &, as such, Padilla's seniority will simply activate upon the certification of his appointment.

[brucejoel99]

Governor Newsom officially submitted Padilla's appointment:

https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1351252783912116231

So, will Padilla be sworn in tomorrow (1/19)? If I am not mistaken, the Senate will be in session tomorrow and Grassley can administer the oath of office if Pence doesn't want to go to the Capitol.

If he's in town, he can be.

[brucejoel99]

When will Georgia's two Democratic Senators(man typing that felt awesome) be sworn in?

If Raffensperger & Kemp are able to certify first thing in the morning, as early as tomorrow afternoon. More likely, Wednesday afternoon.

[brucejoel99]

Padilla, Ossoff, & Warnock will be sworn-in on Wednesday afternoon by Vice President Harris after she's been inaugurated:

Democrats Alex Padilla (Calif.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (Ga.) will be sworn in as new senators on Wednesday afternoon, according to a Senate source. This will come shortly after Biden and Kamala Harris take their own oaths of office. As VP, Harris is expected to swear in the majority making trio.

The moment these new Democrats take office will be historic for Schumer, finally elevating him to Senate majority leader after 40 years in Congress. But it will also start a two-year clock on Biden, Schumer and the Democrats. Can they make razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate work? And can Biden turn the country around before voters head to the polls in 2022?

[brucejoel99]

4pm tomorrow:

https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1351581424864931842