WASHINGTON – Arizona Democrat and former astronaut Mark Kelly was set to be sworn into the Senate on Wednesday, an ascension that will narrow GOP control of the chamber while underscoring his state's shift from red to blue.Kelly, 56, defeated GOP Sen.
Martha McSally in last month's election, making her one of only three incumbents to lose. His arrival will reduce the Republican edge in the chamber to 52-48.
That will have scant impact on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's control over the chamber for the final month of this congressional session.
But it sets the stage for two pivotal Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia.If Democrats win both, they will command the 50-50 chamber for the new Congress that begins in early January because.