Senators from both sides of the aisle on Tuesday welcomed their newest colleague, Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker.

Wicker, who succeeds former Minority Whip Trent Lott, placed his hand on a Bible and took the oath of office, which was administered by Vice President Dick Cheney.

He has been a senator since Dec. 31, when Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a fellow Republican, appointed him to replace Lott until a special election can be held to fill out the remaining five years of Lott’s term. But Senate Rule III required Wicker to take the oath “in open Senate.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., lauded Wicker’s achievements in the House, where he had served since 1995, including his support for veterans’ health care, military construction projects, and for health care research.

“His background expertise on these and other issues will certainly make him a welcome addition to our Senate,” Reid said.

A House member since 1995, Wicker drew praise from the new GOP Conference Chairman, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, for his work on the Tennessee Valley Authority and on increasing American history education in schools.

Barbour has set Nov. 4 as the date for a special election to choose a permanent successor to Lott. But Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood has filed a lawsuit challenging that date, arguing that state election law requires a special election to be held 90 days after Barbour’s Dec. 20 declaration that one was necessary. On Jan. 14, a Hinds County judge agreed with Hood, but the governor may appeal.

Lott was serving his fourth term in the Senate when he resigned his seat in December. He and former Sen. John B. Breaux, D-La., have launched a lobbying firm together.