Alejandro Padilla

Alex Padilla is the first Latino to represent California in the United States Senate. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the seat by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021 to fill the vacancy left by Kamala Harris upon her inauguration as Vice President. He was subsequently elected to a full six-year term in 2022. Raised in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles by immigrant parents from Mexico, Padilla earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before entering public service. Padilla’s political career began on the Los Angeles City Council, where he served as the youngest person and first Latino to be elected Council President. He later served two terms in the California State Senate, where he focused on health and safety legislation. From 2015 to 2021, he served as California’s Secretary of State, where he oversaw the expansion of automatic voter registration and the implementation of the Voter’s Choice Act, aimed at increasing voter participation. In the U.S. Senate, Padilla serves on several committees, including the Judiciary, Budget, and Environment and Public Works committees.

Senator Padilla has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals and protections for DACA recipients. He is a strong supporter of voting rights legislation, drawing on his experience as Secretary of State to promote expanded mail-in voting and ballot access. On environmental issues, he supports the transition to clean energy and has co-sponsored Green New Deal legislation. His healthcare platform includes protecting the Affordable Care Act and expanding access to affordable coverage. Economically, he supports increasing the federal minimum wage and strengthening labor protections for workers.