It’s been five long months of partisan bickering, but Loretta Lynch has finally been sworn in as U.S. attorney general, becoming the first black woman to serve as the top law enforcement officer in the United States in replacing outgoing AG Eric Holder.

Lynch was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday by a 56-43 vote that was held up for five months after her nomination as Republicans squabbled with President Barack Obama over unrelated legislation, as well as concerns that she wasn’t independent enough, according to a Bloomberg report.

She was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden, and spoke briefly about dealing with human trafficking, terrorism, and cybercrime.

She also thanked her husband, Stephen Hargrove, and her father, Lorenzo Lynch, who was at the ceremony to hold the Bible as she was sworn in. Lynch made a few comments about growing up in North Carolina and how the people around her supported her.

Obama has less than two years left in office, meaning Lynch won’t have the time Holder had to create a legacy at the Justice Department, but she will oversee 116,000 employees and a $26 billion budget. Holder was able to pursue issues such as civil rights and deal with combating terrorism. Lynch is unlikely depart from Holder on most issues, and will probably make only small changes during her tenure.

No one expected Lynch’s nomination to be held up as long as it was when Obama tapped her back on Nov. 8 because of her reputation as an aggressive prosecutor with a story that resonated.

However, her stance on executive actions on immigration alienated her with some Republicans.

Lynch worked as a federal prosecutor in New York for nine years before she became chief prosecutor of the Eastern District in 1999. She later entered into private practice and then took a U.S. attorney’s post in 2010.