Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAlex Padilla has been appointed to replace Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Latino senator from California.Gov.
Gavin Newsom made the announcement on Tuesday morning, calling Padilla “a tested fighter” and a champion for voting rights.Padilla, the California secretary of state, was considered the favorite to succeed Harris, especially in light of the growing clout of the Latino vote in the state.
He has long been close with Newsom, backing his first campaign for governor in 2009. Padilla will serve out the remainder of Harris’ term, which ends in 2022, when he will likely run for election in his own right.Newsom also faced pressure to appoint a Black woman to the seat.
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