Alex Padilla

Alexander Padilla: California's New US Senator

Biography and Personal Life

Alejandro "Alex" Padilla was born on March 22, 1973, in Pacoima, California to Mexican immigrant parents. His father worked as a short-order cook and his mother was a seamstress. Padilla earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Political Career

Padilla's political career began in 2006 when he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. He served on the council until 2009, when he was elected to the California State Senate. In 2018, Padilla was elected California's Secretary of State.

In January 2021, Padilla was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Kamala Harris when she became Vice President. Padilla is the first Latino to represent California in the US Senate.