Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., was sworn in as the newest member of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday after he was picked to replace the late Sen. John McCain for at least the remainder of the year.

Kyl returns to the Senate after leaving in 2012 following an 18-year tenure in the upper chamber. His appointment gives Republicans 51 voting members again for the first time since December, when McCain left Washington for cancer treatment.