Luther Strange will succeed Jeff Sessions as U.S. senator from Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley announced on Thursday.
In a joint statement with Bentley, Strange accepted the governor's appointment.
"I pledge to the people of Alabama to continue the same level of leadership as Jeff Sessions in consistently fighting to protect and advance the conservative values we all care about,” Strange said.
President Donald Trump nominated Sessions as U.S. attorney general in November. Sessions was confirmed Wednesday night by the Senate in a 52-47 vote after a confirmation process marked by protest, from both citizens and senators.
He vacated his Senate seat at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night.
A Birmingham-area native, Strange has served as Alabama attorney general since 2011. Notable points in his tenure include the 2015 $2 billion settlement with BP for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the conviction of former Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, in 2016.
Strange will serve as senator until at least 2018 when a special election will be held during the midterms to determine who will finish out the remainder of Sessions' term, which ends in 2020.
Strange had already been fundraising for the special election.
“This is truly a remarkable time in our state’s history,” Bentley said. “Alabama has surely been well represented by Senator Sessions, and I am confident Senator Strange will serve as a fine representative for our people. His leadership on a national level, service as a statewide elected official and long record of taking on tough federal issues are the very qualities that will make him a strong conservative Senator for Alabama.”
Alabama Chief Deputy Attorney General Alice Martin will serve as acting attorney general until Bentley appoints a replacement.
Chip Brownlee, Community Editor, contributed to this report from Montgomery.
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