Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has certified the results of Scott Brown’s upset Senate election win, clearing the way for the Republican to succeed the late Democrat Edward Kennedy.
Vice-President Joe Biden was slated to swear in Mr. Brown at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Mr. Brown will become the 41st Republican member of the Senate, the precise number of votes the Repbulicans needs to filibuster Obama administration initiatives.
Mr. Brown rode a wave of populist, anti-government sentiment to claim a seat Kennedy had held in Democratic-dominated Massachusetts for nearly a half-century.
His victory rocked Democrats, put a dagger in Mr. Obama’s health care overhaul just as it was nearing the legislative finish line.
