Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith named to fill Franken seat

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Tina Smith on Wednesday to replace Sen. Al Franken until a special election in November, setting up his long-time and trusted adviser for a potentially bruising 2018 election.

Smith was widely seen as Dayton's top choice from the moment Franken announced his resignation last week, and she said she would run in the November special election to complete Franken's term through 2020.

"I will run in that election and I will do my best to earn Minnesotans' support," she said at the news conference where Dayton announced her appointment.