DURHAM — On a cold, historic day, with one-third of House members missing due to pandemic fears, the Senate and House were sworn in and — as expected — Chuck Morse was chosen Senate President and Dick Hinch House Speaker.

The House and Senate met outside in 40-degree temperatures at the University of New Hampshire to provide social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social distancing was not enough for 130 House members who did not attend Organization Day — mostly Democrats including House Minority Leader Renny Cushing — who feared exposure to Republican House members who attended a caucus meeting last month in Manchester that resulted in at least three members testing positive for COVID-19.

Both Senate and House leaders noted the legislature faces exceedingly challenging times with the pandemic engulfing the state and requiring changes in the usual operations of the House and Senate.

The lawmakers also returned the longest serving Secretary of State in the country — Bill Gardner who was first elected 44 years ago — and elected Monica Mezzapelle as State Treasurer.

“No legislature has experienced an event like this, it has always been inside,” Gardner said. “At this time in our country there are a lot of struggles, a lot of anxiety, a lot of disagreement, but we are getting through it.”