Doug Jones is already breaking the mold in the Senate.
Jones, who beat out Republican Roy Moore in Alabama's Special election in December, was sworn in Wednesday.
Aside from shifting the Republican-Democrat breakdown, Jones is now the only Senate Democrat to have a black chief of staff. Jones announced Tuesday he hired former Department of Transportation official Dana Gresham to fill the role.
Gresham, who is from Alabama, served as assistant secretary for governmental affairs at the DOT under former President Barack Obama. He also served as chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis.
In another break from the status quo, Jones picked former Vice President Joe Biden as his escort for the swearing-in ceremony. Typically a new senator is escorted by their home-state colleague. Sen. Richard Shelby was reportedly not asked to accompany Jones.
