Vice President Joe Biden gave the oath of office to Goodwin who had Sen. Jay Rockefeller by his side.

Goodwin took the oath at about 2:30 p.m.

Gov. Joe Manchin appointed Goodwin to the Senate post last week. He succeeds the late Robert C. Byrd, who died June 28.

Goodwin will serve in the position until after a special election, which is scheduled for Nov. 2.

After taking the oath, Goodwin cast his first vote in the Senate. He voted in favor of cloture on an unemployment insurance bill.

“I am deeply honored that my first vote in the United States Senate could help so many of my fellow West Virginians who are struggling during this difficult economy as they search for a new job,” Goodwin said. “I know my time in the Senate is limited, but I pledge to work hard, every day, making lives better for the people I represent. Too many people have been suffering while this bill has been held in limbo and I’m glad that I was able to play a part in pushing this legislation forward.”

The bill passed the Senate 60-40.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., issued the following statement about Goodwin taking the oath of office:

“I’m so very proud to welcome my friend and newest colleague to the U.S. Senate, Carte Goodwin.

“As I’ve said before, Carte is among West Virginia’s best and brightest and has served our state faithfully and respectably—as an attorney, general counsel to Governor Manchin and chairman of the School Building Authority. He comes from a family committed to public service that has taught him to work hard, give back and be proud of where he came from—and I respect him a great deal.

“Most importantly, Carte has a deeply ingrained sense of what matters to West Virginians and what our hard working families need from the people that represent them in Washington—his character is strong, his work ethic is unmatched and his heart is always in the right place.”

U.S. Sen. Carte Goodwin released the following statement:

“It is my proudest honor and privilege to serve the state of West Virginia as a U.S. Senator,” said Senator Goodwin. “West Virginia is my lifelong home and working hard for the state and its people has always been my top priority—this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am grateful for the chance to improve the lives of my fellow West Virginians.

“Sen. Robert C. Byrd is irreplaceable, but rest assured that my greatest commitment is standing up for West Virginia’s best interests. I take very seriously the responsibilities I have been given—to defend West Virginia jobs, support our hard working families, and get our economy back on track.

“I am ready to hit the ground running and look forward to working with Senator Rockefeller and my other Senate colleagues to make sure no unnecessary time is lost during this transition. I know that today is just the beginning of a very busy few months and I vow to work my heart out and do whatever it takes to do right by West Virginia while I’m here.”