Alex Padilla (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. Senate from California. He assumed office on January 20, 2021. His current term ends on January 3, 2029.
Padilla (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Padilla also ran in a special election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. He won in the special general election on November 8, 2022.
On December 22, 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Padilla to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created by Sen. Kamala Harris becoming vice president of the United States. He was sworn in on January 20, 2021. Padilla will serve the remaining two years of Harris' term.
Padilla previously served as the California Secretary of State. He was first elected in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. He left office on January 18, 2021, in order to be sworn in as a member of the United States Senate.
Padilla is a former Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing District 20 from 2006-2014. He was ineligible to run for re-election in 2014.
Prior to serving in the California Senate, Padilla was on the Los Angeles City Council from 1999-2006, serving as its president from 2001-2006.
Alex Padilla earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994 and graduated from the Coro Fellowship Program in Leadership and Public Affairs in 1995. Padilla's career experience includes working as a staffer, political director, or campaign manager for several Democratic politicians in California, including Dianne Feinstein, Richard Alarcon, Gilbert Cedillo, and Tony Cardenas. He served as the president of the League of California Cities and as a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
