Gardner sworn in as Colorado’s new US senator

Photo: Sen. Cory Gardner sworn in (AP Photo)
Thatch Gardner, left, son Sen. Cory Gardner R-Colo., second from left, is distracted as his father is administered the Senate oath by Vice President Joe Biden during a ceremonial re-enactment swearing-in ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. Participating in the oath are Gardner's wife Jaime, daughter Alyson, and baby girl Caitlyn.

Colorado's newest senator has been sworn in.

Republican Cory Gardner officially became the state's junior senator Tuesday as the 114th Congress began its session in Washington, DC. Gardner defeated Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in November's election.

Gardner said in a statement that serving in the Senate is a "tremendous honor."

"I am humbled by the trust that the people of Colorado have placed in me to be their Senator, and I'm eager to get down to business making Washington, DC work better for the people of our great state."

Colorado's senior senator is Democrat Michael Bennet. He is up for re-election in 2016 and expected to be a top target of Republicans hoping to maintain their Senate majority.