Governor Newsom Selects a Career Politician to Replace Kamala Harris’ Vacant Senate Seat

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday has announced his selection of Alex Padilla to fill the Senate seat vacated by Kamala Harris.

Newsom said in a statement that “[Padilla] will serve in the halls of our nation’s Capitol as California’s next United States Senator, the first Latino to hold this office.“

Padilla is a career politician having entered politics at age 26 soon after he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He started serving on the Los Angeles City Council in 1999, became president of the council in 2001. Padilla retained a position on the council until 2006 when he was then elected as a California state senator, a seat he held until 2014. He since served as California Secretary of State after defeating Republican Pete Peterson in 2014.

The announcement from Newsom comes after Republicans who sit on the House Oversight and House Administration Committees have accused Padilla “of misuse of taxpayer money and a violation of the law.” The allegations concern a $35 million contract his office awarded to a firm linked to the Biden campaign.

© 2023 Enfield Media Group LLC - All Rights Reserved.