Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R.) on Wednesday tapped Cindy Hyde-Smith to fill Republican Sen. Thad Cochran's Senate seat when he resigns on April 1.
Hyde-Smith, the Mississippi agriculture and commerce commissioner, will also run for election to the seat in November to finish out the rest of Cochran's term, which is up in 2020, Roll Call reported.
"The American dream is alive and well in Mississippi," Hyde-Smith said, highlighting her support for Second Amendment rights and her pro-life stance.
Cochran praised Hyde-Smith, a Republican, in a statement, saying that she is "a very well-qualified person whose experiences and excellent character will benefit our state in Washington."
Cochran, chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced earlier this month that he will resign due to health concerns.
Hyde-Smith was expected to be appointed to the Senate seat. Previously a Democrat, Hyde-Smith switched to the Republican Party in 2010 and was co-chair of the agriculture advisory committee for President Donald Trump's campaign.