Minnesota Lt. Gov. Smith To Join Senate, Dive Into Campaign

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is vowing to ``hit the ground running'' as she joins the U.S. Senate this week while preparing to run in November.

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Smith, his second-in-command, to replace Democratic Sen. Al Franken. Franken announced his resignation after a string of sexual misconduct allegations. The resignation takes effect Tuesday. Smith will be sworn in by former Vice President Walter Mondale on Wednesday.

Smith says that she has ``fundamental differences in values and approaches'' with President Donald Trump and some of her new Republican colleagues. But Smith says she's looking forward to working with her colleagues across the aisle ``on places where we could accomplish something.''

Smith cites infrastructure as an area where the parties could find common ground.