Doug Jones & Tina Smith sworn into Senate Doug Jones & Tina Smith are sworn into the U.S. Senate by Vice President Pence. Jones replaces Luther Strange. Smith replaces Al Franken. Full Senate Session here: http://cs.pn/2CNKQ9W Posted by C-SPAN on Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Update 11:28 a.m.: In welcoming Jones, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Jones "represents the best of public service, represents the best of America."

Update 11:18 a.m.: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell welcomed Jones to the Senate, adding that he "will have big shoes to fill." McConnell said Alabama "has sent some very distinguished" senators to Washington, including Jeff Sessions, who vacated the office to become President Trump's attorney general. Jones defeated Roy Moore in the Dec. 12 special election to fill the seat.

Update 11:05: Jones has been sworn into office. Among the first to congratulate him on the floor was Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who helped campaign for Jones in the final days of the special election.

Update 10:57 a.m.: In an interview with NBC News, Jones was asked how important it is for him to have former Vice President Joe Biden be his escort for the ceremony.

"I'm loving it the fact he's here," Jones said. He's been here many years himself, so it's going to be a special day."

As for what kind of senator he is going to be, Jones said that he would reach across the aisle.

"I'm hoping to be a good senator. I don't think that's a partisan issue. I think any good senator is a bipartisan, and that's what I'm looking to do," he said.

Original story

At around 11 a.m. CST, Doug Jones will become a member of one of the country's most exclusive clubs: the United States Senate.

At that time, Jones will be placing his hand on a family Bible and repeat Vice President Mike Pence's instructions to swear to uphold the Constitution as a U.S. Senator representing Alabama.

Jones shocked the political world by defeating Roy Moore in the Dec. 12 special election. With his victory, Jones became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Alabama in a quarter century.

The official ceremony will be conducted in private; no photography or press is allowed, according to Senate rules. A reenactment of the event is scheduled for 11:25 a.m. CST. C-SPAN will be live streaming the occasion, which can be viewed here. Coverage begins at 11 a.m.

Jones will be escorted to the ceremony by former Vice President Joe Biden, who campaigned for him in Birmingham. Biden is also a family friend of Jones.

Typically, a new senator is accompanied by his home state counterpart. But the Senate website states that a different representative is sometimes chosen "because the newly elected senator has sharp political differences with that colleague."

Jones is a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the convictions of two Ku Klux Klan members responsible for the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. He also served as counsel to late Alabama Sen. Howell Heflin.

In tribute to his former boss, Jones will be wearing Heflin's cufflinks during the swearing-in ceremony, according to a spokesman for Jones's transition team.

After completing the oath, Jones will become the 49th Democratic member of the Senate.