When Alex Padilla took over Kamala Harris’ seat in the U.S. Senate in 2021, he quickly proved that Gov. Gavin Newsom had made a wise appointment, stepping confidently onto the national stage at a moment of intense political turmoil. On Nov. 8, voters will be asked to give him his first full term representing the great state of California, and they should do so without hesitation.
The Democrat from Los Angeles is just what the nation needs: a level-headed and thoughtful lawmaker with a demonstrated commitment to improving life for the working class and immigrants, and who champions democratic ideals and institutions. You could say he has been in training for this job for more than 20 years, after being elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 at age 26 to represent the north San Fernando Valley, where he grew up and still lives. Padilla moved to the state Legislature and then, in 2014, was elected California’s secretary of state.
As the state’s top elections chief, Padilla ushered in voting reforms that increased registration and voter participation, even while pushing back against the unfounded claims of election fraud by former President Trump and other GOP officials. In the Senate, he has continued to support election integrity and is one of the co-sponsors of the Electoral Count Reform Act, which would reform the process to certify presidential election results.
