Alex Padilla

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Alex Padilla
Official portrait, 2021
United States Senator
from California
Assumed office
January 18, 2021
Serving with Laphonza Butler
Preceded byKamala Harris
30th Secretary of State of California
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 18, 2021
GovernorJerry Brown
Gavin Newsom
Preceded byDebra Bowen
Succeeded byShirley Weber
Member of the California State Senate
from the 20th district
In office
December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2014
Preceded byRichard Alarcon
Succeeded byConnie Leyva
President of the Los Angeles City Council
In office
July 4, 2001 – January 1, 2006
Preceded byRuth Galanter
Succeeded byEric Garcetti
Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 7th district
In office
July 1, 1999 – December 4, 2006
Preceded byRichard Alarcon
Succeeded byRichard Alarcon
Personal details
Born (1973-03-22) March 22, 1973 (age 51)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Angela Monzon
(m. 2012)
Children3
EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology (BS)
SignatureCursive signature in ink
WebsiteSenate website
Campaign website

Alejandro "Alex" Padilla (born March 22, 1973) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from California, a seat he has held since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Padilla served as the 30th secretary of state of California from 2015 to 2021 and was a member of the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council.[1]

Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to the United States Senate after then-Senator Kamala Harris was elected Vice President of the United States; Harris, as the newly elected vice president and president of the Senate, swore Padilla in on January 20, 2021. In dual November 2022 elections, Padilla won a special election to complete Harris's term as well as election to a full Senate term, defeating Republican nominee Mark Meuser in both.[2]

Padilla became California's senior senator on September 29, 2023, upon the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Early life and education[edit]

Padilla is one of three children of Santos and Lupe Padilla, both of whom immigrated from Mexico, specifically Jalisco and Chihuahua, before meeting and marrying in Los Angeles, where he was born.[3][4] He grew up in Pacoima, Los Angeles, and graduated from San Fernando High School in the northeast San Fernando Valley.[5] He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1994.[6] He graduated from the Coro Fellows Southern California Program in 1995.

Early career[edit]

Los Angeles[edit]

After graduation, Padilla moved back to Pacoima and briefly worked as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft, where he wrote software for satellite systems.[7][8][9]

Padilla is a former member of the governing board of MIT and president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), which has a membership of more than 6,000 Latino U.S. officials.[10][11] He has chaired the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association since 2005.[10][12]

Padilla began in politics as a member of the Democratic Party in 1995, in substantial part in response to California Proposition 187, which excluded illegal immigrants from all non-emergency public services, including public education, but which he felt was motivated by a broader nativism that demonized legal and illegal immigrants alike.[13] His first professional role was as a personal assistant to Senator Dianne Feinstein. He then served as a campaign manager for Assemblyman Tony Cárdenas in 1996, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo in 1997, and State Senator Richard Alarcon in 1998, all Democrats. All won their respective elections.[10][14]

Los Angeles City Council[edit]

On July 1, 1999, at age 26, Padilla was sworn in as a member of the Los Angeles City Council.[15] Two years later, his colleagues elected him council president. Padilla was the first Latino and the youngest person elected president of the Los Angeles City Council, defeating incumbent Ruth Galanter.[10][16] On September 13, 2001, two days after the 9/11 attacks, Padilla became the acting mayor of Los Angeles for a couple of days while Mayor James K. Hahn traveled out of the city.[17][16] Los Angeles Times wrote that Padilla's rise to the mayor's office raised his "political stock".[17]

During his term as City Council president, Padilla also was elected president of the California League of Cities, the first Latino to serve in that position.[10]

California State Senate[edit]

After retiring as president of the Los Angeles City Council, Padilla was elected to the State Senate in 2006, defeating Libertarian Pamela Brown. He was reelected in 2010 with nearly 70% of the vote over Republican Kathleen Evans.[18] Padilla served as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Business and Professions and Economic Development Committee, Governmental Organization Committee, Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, and chaired the Select Committee on Science, Innovation and Public Policy. He left office on November 30, 2014, after two terms.[19]

In August 2012, Padilla was included in a list of 20 Latino political rising stars compiled by the San Francisco Chronicle, citing his role in the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.[20]

In September 2014, Padilla promoted what would later become Proposition 67, a proposed ban on plastic bags.[21][better source needed] On November 8, 2016, when Padilla was Secretary of State, the proposal was voted on in a referendum, and the option in favor of the ban on plastic bags received 53% of the vote.[22] Padilla authored legislation that passed in 2008 requiring some restaurants to disclose calorie information on menus.[23][24]

30th Secretary of State of California (2015–2021)[edit]

Official Secretary of State photo
Secretary of State Alex Padilla speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention.

On April 11, 2013,[25] Padilla announced his intention to run for California secretary of state in 2014, to succeed the term-limited incumbent Debra Bowen. He was expected to face an intraparty battle with fellow Democrat Leland Yee, but Yee's arrest for felony racketeering caused Yee to abandon the race.[26] Padilla won the election on November 4, 2014, with 53.6% of the vote, defeating Republican Pete Peterson.[27] He was officially sworn into office specifically on January Monday 5, 2015, concurrently during Jerry Brown's fourth term.

On June 29, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which President Donald Trump created on May 11, requested data on enrolled voters from every state, dating back to 2006. Padilla said that California would not supply the data.[28][29]

On November 6, 2018, Padilla was reelected with 64.5% of the vote, defeating Republican Mark P. Meuser.[30]

On October 16, 2020, Padilla was involved in a controversy between the state and the California Republican Party, as the party deployed unofficial ballot boxes for voters to submit their ballots at select locations, including churches and gun stores in competitive California districts.[31][32][33][34] Padilla issued a cease-and-desist order, arguing that the ballot boxes were illegal and failed to ensure ballot security.[32][33][31][35] Local Republican leadership refused to follow the order and said the boxes were a form of legal ballot harvesting that had been enabled by recent Democratic legislation (which lacked a chain of custody requirement),[31] and were a way to increase voter turnout.[36][31] Accusing Democrats of hypocrisy given their widespread door-to-door ballot harvesting in the 2018 United States elections,[37][32][31] the state Republican Party later agreed to a set of collection procedures and said a volunteer's mistake of affixing a sign denoting the ballot box as "official" had contributed to the political standoff; Padilla's office said it was continuing to investigate whether ballots were being handled correctly and that the "ineptitude or unlawfulness of a political operative or campaign volunteer" could nonetheless lead to "serious legal consequences".[31][32]

In early 2020, Padilla announced a $35 million no-bid contract for a statewide voter education ad campaign with partisan public relations firm SKDK (then known as "SKDKnickerbocker") called "Vote Safe California", but State Controller Betty Yee blocked the funding because Padilla's office did not have the authority to use federal money that was allocated to county governments; the campaign proceeded anyway.[38] The group had marketed itself as being on "Team Biden", and the awarding of the no-bid contract under supposed "emergency powers" despite the group's ties with the Democratic Party and work for Democratic politicians running for office in California received bipartisan criticism.[39][40][41] Amid ongoing litigation by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, who contend that the contract bypassed fair competition rules and misappropriated federal election funding for local elections operations, and was therefore illegal, Governor Newsom signed legislation that provided state funding to reimburse SKDK in February 2021.[39]

Upon Padilla's appointment to the U.S. Senate, Newsom appointed Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to succeed him.[42]

United States Senator from California (2021–present)[edit]

Appointment[edit]

Padilla during the 117th Congress

In August 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. After they won the general election, Padilla was mentioned as a possible choice as Harris's successor in the Senate. Governor Newsom had the power to appoint her successor.[43][44][45][46] In December 2020, Newsom announced that he would appoint Padilla to the seat, making him California's first Hispanic senator[47] and the first male U.S. senator from California since Alan Cranston retired in 1993. During the speculation about whom Newsom would appoint, the senior senator from California, Dianne Feinstein, supported Padilla.[48][49] To replace Padilla as California's secretary of state, Newsom appointed state assemblywoman Shirley Weber.[50]

Most Latinos, who are 40% of California's population, supported Padilla's appointment,[51] but some black leaders, who wanted another black woman to replace Harris, criticized it. San Francisco Mayor London Breed called Padilla's appointment "a real blow to the African American community".[51]

Elections[edit]

2022[edit]

Padilla announced that he would seek a full term in 2022. He appeared on two ballots: one for the special election to fill the remainder of his term in the 117th Congress, and the other for the new term beginning with the 118th Congress.[52] The special election was due to a recent change in California law that ended Padilla's appointment in November 2022. He was on the ballot in two separate races in the November 2022 election—a special election for the final two months of Harris's Senate term, and a regular election for a full six-year term beginning in January 2023.[52][53]

Tenure[edit]

On January 20, 2021, Padilla was sworn into the United States Senate in the 117th Congress by Vice President Kamala Harris, his predecessor, becoming the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. He was sworn in by Vice President Harris on her first day, at the same time as new Georgia senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. He served the final two years of Harris's term.[52][54] He filed the necessary paperwork with the FEC to run for a full term and an unexpired term in the 2022 elections[53] which he won in November 2022.

While in office, Padilla introduced legislation to add more legal protections for various public lands in California, including parts of the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and Carrizo Plain National Monument.[55][56] Padilla also introduced legislation to help coastal communities adapt shorelines to increased flooding and erosion from sea level rise and extreme weather.[57]

Committee assignments[edit]

Current[edit]

Previous[edit]

Caucus Memberships[edit]

Appointments[edit]

Political positions[edit]

The Wall Street Journal says that Padilla had "a reputation [in the State Senate] as a business-friendly moderate".[64] FiveThirtyEight defined him as a technocrat, not identified with either the progressive or the moderate wing of the party.[65] The American Conservative Union gave Padilla a 0% rating in 2012.[66] On January 18, 2021, Padilla released a statement in support of the Green New Deal and Medicare For All legislation, among other progressive policies.[67]

Abortion[edit]

Padilla favors abortion rights, saying in 2018 that abortion rights are "not negotiable".[68] In 2008, Padilla sponsored the bill SB 1770, which would require the Commission on Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) to prepare relevant guidelines and mechanisms for the investigation and reporting of "cases involving anti-reproductive-rights crimes".[69][70] In 2018, after winning the primary for secretary of state to seek a second term, he received support from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[71]

When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Padilla condemned the decision.[72]

LGBTQIA+ rights[edit]

Padilla supports transgender rights.[73]

Climate and environment[edit]

Padilla supports climate action and said during budgetary discussions in October 2021 that "[c]limate cannot be on the chopping block in this or any budget."[74] He supports the Green New Deal and has said that it "offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity."[67][75] Padilla received a 100% score from the League of Conservation Voters in 2021.[76]

Filibuster[edit]

Padilla supports ending the Senate filibuster.[14]

Immigration[edit]

Padilla supports immigrants' rights.[77][78] On January 15, 2021, he said that he supports legislation sponsored by representative Joaquin Castro to speed up the citizenship process for undocumented immigrants in essential jobs, declaring that because of the work they do, "they deserve stability".[77][78]

Voting rights[edit]

Padilla has been known for efforts to expand voting access.[79] When he was appointed to the Senate in 2021, Newsom called him "a national defender of voting rights".[80]

Puerto Rico political status[edit]

In November 2023, Padilla introduced legislation in the Senate to authorize a binding federally sponsored referendum, known as a plebiscite, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status. The legislation details the transition and implementation of non-territorial status for Puerto Rico: statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the U.S.[81]

Personal life[edit]

Padilla married Angela Monzon in 2012.[82] They have three sons and live in the San Fernando Valley's Porter Ranch neighborhood.[83] In late 2015 and early 2016, the Aliso Canyon gas leak temporarily displaced the Padillas from their home.[83]

Electoral history[edit]

Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. Total % ±% P.
2006 State Senator Democratic 24,303 55.8% 1st 84,459 74.85% –25.15% 1st Won Hold [84]
2010 Democratic 26,431 100.0% 1st 94,356 68.34% –6.51% 1st Won Hold [85]
2014 Secretary of State Democratic 1,217,371 30.24% 1st 3,799,711 53.63% +0.45% 1st Won Hold [86]
2018 Democratic 3,475,643 52.56% 1st 7,909,521 64.45% +10.82% 1st Won Hold [87]
2022 U.S. Senator (short term) Democratic 3,740,582 54.98% 1st 6,559,303 60.89% N/A[a] 1st Won Hold [88]
U.S. Senator (full term) Democratic 3,725,544 54.12% 1st 6,621,616 61.06% N/A[a] 1st Won Hold

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b The most recent election for this seat was between two Democrats, so there can be no percent change.
  1. ^ "AP21:003 :: California Secretary of State". Sos.ca.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "California U.S. Senate Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Hubler, Shawn (December 22, 2020). "Alex Padilla Will Replace Kamala Harris in the Senate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Hymon, Steve (May 7, 2006). "Sons Live Out a Dream". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Roderick, Kevin (July 2002). "Power Play in East Valley". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  6. ^ Benefiel, Anna K. (August 4, 1999). "Recent MIT Graduate Elected to Los Angeles City Council". The Tech. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  7. ^ Downing, Eve (Winter 2000). "Coming Home". MIT Spectrum. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
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  9. ^ Fox, Sue (July 4, 2001). "Former Engineer Rocketed to the Top". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Ca - Officials". Allgov.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  11. ^ "NALEO Congratulates California Secretary of State Alex Padilla on his Upcoming Appointment to the U.S. Senate" (PDF). NALEO. December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Mabie, Bill (July 20, 2005). "Padilla elected chair of the American Diabetes Association Los Angeles Leadership Council" (PDF). Los Angeles City Council press release.
  13. ^ Shafer, Scott; Lagos, Marisa (December 23, 2020). "Political Breakdown Special: Alex Padilla is California's Next U.S. Senator". Political Breakdown. KQED. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Michaelson, Elex (December 23, 2020). "Alex Padilla talks senate agenda, family's immigrant story, and ending the filibuster". FOX 11. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
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  21. ^ "California to Become First State to Ban the Bag". Plastic Pollution Coalition. October 2014. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  22. ^ "California Phases Out Plastic Bags, Promotes Reusables Ahead of the Biggest Grocery Shopping Day of the Year". Californians Against Waste. November 22, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  23. ^ "On-Menu Calorie Count Back on the State Legislative Docket". KPBS Public Media. February 21, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  24. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (September 30, 2008). "State to require calorie counts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  25. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (April 11, 2013). "Sen. Alex Padilla announces run for California secretary of state". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  26. ^ Former Sen. Yee changes plea to guilty Archived August 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2015.
  27. ^ "Statement of Vote November 4, 2014, General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  28. ^ "How California lawmakers have tried and failed to fix the state's housing crisis". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  29. ^ "Secretary of State Alex Padilla Responds to Presidential Election Commission Request for Personal Data of California Voters". Secretary of State of California. June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  30. ^ "Secretary of State - Statewide Results". Secretary of State of California. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  31. ^ a b c d e f White, Jeremy B. (October 16, 2020). "California allows Republican ballot boxes with safeguards". Politico PRO.
  32. ^ a b c d "Dispute Over Unofficial Ballot Boxes Continues in California". Spectrumnews1.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "State GOP Says It Will Not Remove Unofficial Ballot Drop Boxes". October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  34. ^ "Padilla: Unofficial ballot drop boxes are against California law". Sports.yahoo.com. October 12, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  35. ^ "California Republicans refuse to move fake ballot drop boxes". The Independent. October 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  36. ^ White, Jeremy B. (October 14, 2020). "California GOP: Our ballot boxes just another form of legal 'ballot harvesting'". Politico PRO.
  37. ^ White, Jeremy B. (October 15, 2020). "California Republicans spark national feud over 'harvesting' ballot boxes". Politico PRO.
  38. ^ Sacramento Bee Editorial Board (November 24, 2020). "Betty Yee must uphold law, let Alex Padilla clean up $35 million voter contract mess". The Sacramento Bee.
  39. ^ a b "Newsom, lawmakers agree to pay pro-Biden firm for California voter education contract". Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2021.
  40. ^ Hoeven, Emily (November 23, 2020). "Will state stick 'Team Biden' firm with $35 million tab after Yee balks at Padilla vote contract?". CalMatters.
  41. ^ Christopher, Ben (December 28, 2020). "'We'll get that paid' | Newsom and Padilla vow to fix controversial election contract". KXTV.
  42. ^ "Gov. Newsom nominates Shirley Weber as California's first Black secretary of state". Kcra.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  43. ^ Barrón-López, Laura (August 26, 2020). "Latino Victory backs Alex Padilla for possible appointment to Harris' Senate seat". Politico. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  44. ^ "One of these people could be Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' successor and California's next senator". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  45. ^ Ting, Eric (November 7, 2020). "What happens to Kamala Harris' Senate seat now that she's vice president-elect?". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  46. ^ "Promueven al latino Alex Padilla para ocupar curul de Kamala Harris en Senado". EFE (in Spanish). August 26, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  47. ^ Hubler, Shawn (December 22, 2020). "Alex Padilla Will Replace Kamala Harris in the Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  48. ^ "Feinstein backs Padilla". NBC News. December 2, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  49. ^ Kapur, Sahil (December 2, 2020). "Dianne Feinstein wants Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in Senate". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  50. ^ "Governor Newsom Swears in Dr. Shirley Weber as California Secretary of State". Gov.ca.gov. January 29, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  51. ^ a b Blood, Michael R. (December 22, 2020). "California gets Latino US senator, some black leaders angry". AP News. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  52. ^ a b c Myers, John (September 27, 2021). "Californians will vote multiple times in 2022 for the same U.S. Senate seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  53. ^ a b "Statement of Candidacy, Alex Padilla, FEC.gov". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  54. ^ Zhou, Li (January 20, 2021). "Alex Padilla is sworn in as California's first Latino senator". Vox.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  55. ^ Haskell, Josh (May 4, 2021). "Sen. Alex Padilla proposes bill to protect 1 million acres of California public land". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  56. ^ "California senator seeks expansion of land, water protection". AP NEWS. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  57. ^ Staff, Ashley Tsai | (July 1, 2021). "CA Sen. Alex Padilla announces legislation to protect coastal communities". The Daily Californian. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  58. ^ Durbin, Dick; Grassley, Chuck (February 14, 2021). "Durbin, Grassley Announce Subcommittees and Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members of Senate Judiciary Committee | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". Judiciary.senate.gov. Senate Judiciary Committee.
  59. ^ "Congressional Hispanic Caucus Welcomes Senator Alex Padilla". January 21, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  60. ^ "House and Senate Cultural Caucuses | Americans for the Arts". May 15, 2019.
  61. ^ "CAPAC Welcomes New Associate Members". March 12, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  62. ^ url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/
  63. ^ "Armed Services Committees Leadership Announces Chair and Vice Chair Selections for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services". www.armed-services.senate.gov. December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  64. ^ Andrews, Christine Mai-Duc and Natalie (December 22, 2020). "California Governor Picks Alex Padilla to Fill Harris's Senate Seat". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  65. ^ Rakich, Nathaniel (December 22, 2020). "California's New Senator Will Make History. But Can He Win A Full Term In 2022?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  66. ^ "2012 State Legislative Ratings" (PDF). American Conservative Union. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  67. ^ a b Eric Ting (January 19, 2021). "Alex Padilla finally reveals policy stances on Democratic wedge issues". Sgate.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  68. ^ "Alex Padilla on Twitter: A woman's right to choose what happens to her own body is not negotiable. #NoAbortionBan". Twitter. January 28, 2018.
  69. ^ Simmons, Christopher (January 6, 2014). "Calif. Senator Alex Padilla Highlights 2013 Legislative Accomplishments - Begins Final Year in State Senate". California Newswire (Press release). Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  70. ^ "Bill Text - SB-1770 Anti-reproductive-rights crime". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  71. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Congratulates Endorsed Candidates in California on Primary Victories". NARAL Pro-Choice America. June 6, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  72. ^ Padilla, Alex. "The radical right-wing SCOTUS decision casts aside half a century of precedent to deny reproductive freedom to millions of Americans. I will keep fighting to enshrine reproductive rights in federal law. But Americans must make their voices heard, especially at the ballot box". Twitter. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  73. ^ "LGBTQs praise Padilla pick for CA Senate seat". Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  74. ^ Vakil, Caroline (October 14, 2021). "Pelosi on addressing climate through reconciliation package: 'This is our moment'". The Hill. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  75. ^ "Padilla Joins Markey, Ocasio-Cortez to Reintroduce Green New Deal". Senator Alex Padilla. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  76. ^ "Check out Alex Padilla's Environmental Voting Record". League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. February 14, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  77. ^ a b "Padilla backs legislation to fast-track citizenship for undocumented essential workers". Fox40.com. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  78. ^ a b Adrian Carrasquillo (January 19, 2021). "Incoming Senator Alex Padilla looks to lead on immigration, targets Cruz, Hawley". Newsweek. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  79. ^ Koseff, Alexei (December 22, 2020). "Who is Alex Padilla? California's new senator has broken ground in state politics for two decades". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  80. ^ "Alex Padilla Senate pick makes history but leaves California with $34 million bill". Sacramento Bee. December 22, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  81. ^ "california u s senator alex padilla-introduces legislation to allow puerto rico to determine its political status". Sierra Sun Times. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  82. ^ "Los Angeles lawmaker Alex Padilla ties the knot". Los Angeles Times. May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  83. ^ a b Khokha, Sasha (February 6, 2016). "California's Secretary of State Shares His Story as a Porter Ranch Refugee". KQED. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  84. ^ Primary election: General election:
    • "Statement of Vote" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2006. p. 23. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  85. ^ Primary election: General election:
  86. ^ Primary election: General election:
  87. ^ Primary election: General election:
    • "Statement of Vote" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2018. p. 7. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  88. ^ Primary election:

External links[edit]

Civic offices
Preceded by
Richard Alarcon
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 7th district
2000–2006
Succeeded by
Richard Alarcon
Preceded by President of the Los Angeles City Council
2001–2006
Succeeded by
California Senate
Preceded by Member of the California Senate
from the 20th district

2006–2015
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of California
2015–2021
Succeeded by
James Schwab
Acting
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Kamala Harris
U.S. Senator (Class 3) from California
2021–present
Served alongside: Dianne Feinstein, Laphonza Butler
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from California
(Class 3)

2022
Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas United States Senator from Georgia Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator from California

since January 20, 2021
Succeeded byas United States Senator from Pennsylvania
Preceded by United States senators by seniority
89th
Succeeded by