XPost: alt.california, sac.politics, alt.politics.democrats
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
From: bksherman@bleeding-rectums.cnn.com

Washington (CNN)Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed California Secretary
of State Alex Padilla to fill Vice President-elect Kamala
Harris' Senate seat on Tuesday, choosing the first Latino in
state history for the role.

Newsom, who had been under intense pressure within California to
choose a Black woman to replace Harris because of the lack of
diversity in the US Senate -- tweeted that Padilla's appointment
would make history but added that Padilla "is far more
interested in changing history -- especially for the working men
and women of our state and country."

"I can think of no one better to represent the state of
California as our next United States Senator," Newsom tweeted
Tuesday. The California governor extended the offer to Padilla
in a video conversation that he released in his tweet.

Padilla will serve through the duration of Harris' term, and
will have to prepare for a highly competitive statewide race to
fill the seat in 2022.

Padilla, the son of a cook and house cleaner who immigrated from
Mexico, choked up when speaking to Newsom about his parents on
the video as he accepted the position.

"I'm honored, man, and I'm humbled, because of them," Padilla
says.

In his announcement, Newsom noted that Padilla, 47, had worked
his way from "humble beginnings to the halls of MIT," where he
got his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He
entered politics as an aide to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein
of California, was elected to the Los Angeles City Council at
the age of 26 and later became the council's youngest president
in its history. He moved on to the state Senate in 2006,
representing the San Fernando Valley.

"Through his tenacity, integrity, smarts and grit, California is
gaining a tested fighter in their corner who will be a fierce
ally in D.C., lifting up our state's values and making sure we
secure the critical resources to emerge stronger from this
pandemic," Newsom said in a statement. "He will be a Senator for
all Californians."

His appointment will make history. But the @AlexPadilla4CA I
know is far more interested in changing history -- especially
for the working men and women of our state and country.

I can think of no one better to represent the state of
California as our next United States Senator.
pic.twitter.com/xiAzpTS42Y

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 22, 2020
Newsom chose his longtime political ally after what was
described as difficult decision-making process as the governor
weighed the competing pressures of the desire to see the first
Latino from California in the US Senate and the paucity of Black
representation in that chamber.

There will be no Black women in the Senate after Harris' exit in
January to join President-elect Joe Biden's administration. Top
contenders for Harris' seat included Rep. Karen Bass, who
represents much of South Los Angeles, and Rep. Barbara Lee of
Oakland, but neither had as close a relationship to Newsom as
Padilla.

When Newsom ran his first campaign for governor in 2009, Padilla
served as his campaign chairman until Newsom dropped out when
former Gov. Jerry Brown entered the race. (Newsom ultimately
served as lieutenant governor to Brown).

Padilla, a warm and personable figure who has many allies in
California Democratic political circles, had other prominent
backers, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' BOLD PAC
and Feinstein.

The California Legislative Black Caucus and other groups had
pushed for Bass and Lee to replace Harris. The Women's
Foundation of California joined the campaign urging Newsom to
appoint a Black woman, enlisting Latina labor icon Dolores
Huerta, among others, to sign a letter to the governor.

"Women's voices are desperately needed, but Black women's voices
are especially needed at this time in history," Huerta said in a
video she recorded for the push. She said Newsom should take
that step "to correct the terrible history of discrimination
that Black women have suffered through the ages. And you will
actually cement your own legacy as part of the civil rights
movement by doing this."

Lee tweeted Tuesday that Padilla "has a track record as a
skilled legislator and a steadfast advocate for justice" and
said he would be "a powerful voice in the Senate for those who
continue to be denied our country's promise of equality."

Bass also congratulated Padilla on Twitter, noting they had
served together in the state Legislature, where "he passed
landmark legislation to make California the first state in the
nation to require chain restaurants to post calorie information
directly on menus," and praising him for modernizing
California's electoral and vote-by-mail processes as secretary
of state.

"Today, our state gains yet another champion following a
distinguished line of individuals who have shattered glass
ceilings and hurdled obstacles in their way," Bass said of the
Padilla pick. "After then-Senator Harris's historic election in
2016 as the first woman of color to represent California, we now
have another historic barrier shattered as Alex will be the
first Latino to serve California in the United States Senate."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/22/politics/alex-padilla-senate- gavin-newsom/index.html

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