OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Inslee has appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs as the state’s 16th secretary of state, marking the first time a Democrat will hold the office since the mid-1960s.

Hobbs will replace Republican Kim Wyman, who will leave office Nov. 19 to start a top election security job in the Biden administration.

Inslee announced the appointment from Glasgow, Scotland where he is participating in this year’s U.N. climate summit. Hobbs’ appointment is effective Nov. 22.