Desert's Latino Leaders Applaud Newsom's Pick For US Senate Seat

Palm Desert CA

22 December, 2020

6:19 PM

Description

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — Two of the Coachella Valley's most prominent Latino Democratic leaders were applauding the appointment Tuesday of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to represent the Golden State in the U.S. Senate. The child of Mexican immigrants, Padilla, 47, will be California's first Latino senator. He is filling the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. "Congratulations to @CAgovernorand @AlexPadilla4CA on this historic appointment," Rep. Raul Ruiz tweeted. He represents the 36th Congressional District in the Coachella Valley and Pass Area. His tweet continued, "This is a strong recognition of Padilla's excellent record and the contributions of the 40% Latino population in CA to our state and nation. As Chair-elect of CHC [Congressional Hispanic Caucus], welcome to Congress and the CHC!" Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez also weighed in on the Padilla appointment. Although the Board of Supervisors is made up of members who are elected without party labels, Perez is a longtime Democrat, having served in the California State Assembly. Also, Perez was elected on Friday to a two-year term as president of the Latino Caucus of California Counties. In late November, Perez spoke at a press conference in Los Angeles, one of five organized across the Golden State with Latino elected officials, community leaders and a coalition of organizations including the Latino Caucus of California Counties. The groups were advocating that California have Latino representation in the U.S. Senate. They succeeded in their cause. "The Latino Caucus of California Counties applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for his appointment of Alex Padilla as California's next U.S. Senator," Perez, who represents the Coachella Valley, said in a released statement. "Alex Padilla is a bright and accomplished leader and I have full confidence he will represent all Californians very well indeed. In 170 years of U.S. statehood, California has never before had a Latino representative in the U.S. Senate. This is a historic first, that comes at a time where we need great leaders who can connect to the Latino population, and strongly needed in our nation as a whole. ¡Sí se pudo!" Padilla was widely expected to be Newsom's pick, as the two are longtime political allies. "I am honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by Governor Newsom, and I intend to work each and every day to honor that trust and deliver for all Californians," Padilla said in a statement. Padilla, who lives in Los Angeles, will hold the Senate seat through 2022, when he will have to run for reelection. Harris hasn't given a date for her resignation, but she will be inaugurated as vice president on Jan. 20. The last time a Southern Californian sat in the U.S. Senate to represent the state was 1992, the last year that John Seymour held the office. Seymour, a Republican, was appointed to the seat in 1991 to continue newly elected Gov. Pete Wilson's term, but Democratic candidate Dianne Feinstein bested Seymour in the 1992 special election.