With her right hand in the air and her left hand on the gavel, Cindy Hyde-Smith made history Monday.

The Southwest Mississippi native who was reared in Brookhaven became the first female U.S. Senator to represent Mississippi.

That’s historic for the state, but also good for our corner of Mississippi as well.

Vice President Mike Pence swore Hyde-Smith in with her fellow senator from Mississippi, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant looking on.

Bryant tapped Hyde-Smith to fill the vacant Senate seat left after long-time Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran retired due to his failing health.

Hyde-Smith is expected to face a tough campaign in November against several formidable political foes, including state Sen. Chris McDaniel, the tea partier who nearly ousted Cochran four years ago.

Although some may look at her recent political party flip — she considered herself a Democrat until 2010 when she affiliated herself as a Republican — as a negative. Her political history potentially could be an asset.

From where we sit, we see and hear members of both parties who are tired of the empty rancor and the ceaseless rhetoric and simply seek good, smart people, who can work together.

If Hyde-Smith can parlay her political history into an impressive campaign story, she may make history again in November becoming not only the first female Mississippian ever appointed a U.S. Senator, but also the first-ever elected to the office as well.