Minnesota gov. appoints lt. gov. to fill Franken's Senate seat

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith on Wednesday to fill fellow Democrat Al Franken's Senate seat until a special election in November, setting up his longtime and trusted adviser for a potentially bruising 2018 special election.

Smith was widely seen as Dayton's top choice from the moment Franken announced his resignation last week. But her previous decision not to run for governor had raised questions about her appetite for a closely watched and expensive Senate campaign.

Smith said she is in and fully committed.

"I can tell you I shouldn't be underestimated, and if I weren't confident I wouldn't be doing this," she said.

It's not clear when Smith will head to Washington. Franken, who resigned under pressure from his own party after he was accused of improper behavior by at least eight women, announced Dec. 7 he would resign "in the coming weeks." His office hasn't set a final departure date; Smith indicated it likely would be in early January.

In a statement, Franken called his successor the perfect choice but didn't shed light on his formal resignation plans, saying only he would work with Smith to ensure "a speedy and seamless transition."

Smith will be the second Democrat on a path to the Senate in as many days, after Doug Jones' victory in Alabama in Tuesday's special election.

Smith, 59, served as Dayton's chief of staff for four years before ascending to become his No. 2 when his previous lieutenant chose not to join him in seeking a second term in 2014. Dayton long has treated Smith as an equal in the office, which fueled speculation she was being groomed to succeed him.

Her path to politics was unconventional.

Next year's race to fill the final two years of Franken's term is certain to be one of the nation's most closely watched and expensive, and Dayton was under pressure from fellow Democrats in Washington to ensure his pick would use the appointment as a springboard for that election.

Meanwhile, Republicans immediately floated former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty as a possible candidate, but many others were said to be weighing a race.

Smith's past work with Planned Parenthood in Minnesota and other Midwestern states, which provides abortions along with other health services, was sure to become a flash point with Republicans on the campaign trail.

Smith, who served as vice president of external affairs, said Planned Parenthood provides critical health care and sexual transmitted disease treatment to "thousands and thousands and thousands of women."

"I'm proud of that work," Smith said.