The Rhode Island Senate has chosen Dominick Ruggerio to replace outgoing Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.

The Senate voted 37-0 on Thursday to elect Ruggerio, a North Providence Democratic senator who has been the chamber’s majority leader.

Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat who was the first woman to lead the Senate, is leaving to take a hospital industry job.

Ruggerio was accompanied by his young granddaughter as he was sworn in.

He won bipartisan support from the 38-member body, which has 33 Democrats and five Republicans.

The vote on the Senate happened just minutes after a Democratic caucus meeting where Democrats endorsed Ruggerio as their pick for president.

One Democrat was absent from both the caucus and floor vote.