Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla DEMDemocrat

United States Senator

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Alex PadillaDEMDemocrat United States Senator
49
Years of Age
23
Years of Experience
CAResidence (state)

Alejandro Padilla (pə-DEE-ə; born March 22, 1973) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from California since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Padilla served more than seven years on the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 7th district. First elected in 1999, he was the president of the Los Angeles City Council from 2001 to 2006. He then served in the California State Senate for the 20th district from 2006 to 2014. After that, he served as the 30th secretary of state of California from 2015 to 2021.Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to the United States Senate after then-Senator Kamala Harris was elected Vice President of the United States; Harris, as the newly elected vice president and president of the Senate, swore Padilla in on January 20, 2021. In dual November 2022 elections, Padilla won a special election to complete his term (California law limits how long appointed U.S. senators may serve) as well as election to a full term in the Senate, besting Republican nominee Mark Meuser.

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0 / 4
Education4 - 4 of 2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science mechanical engineer
1994
San Fernando High School
Past Positions1 - 12 of 12
Senator
United States Senate, California
2021 - Current
Secretary of State
State of California
2015 - 2021
Senator
California State Senate
2006 - 2014
Member
Los Angeles City Council
1999 - 2006
Campaign Manager
Richard Alarcon for State Senate
1998
Southern California Political Director
Victory : California Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign
1998
Campaign Manager
Gil Cedillo for State Assembly
1997
Campaign Manager
Tony Cardenas for State Assembly
1996
Educational Counselor
University of the Pacific
1994
Engineer
Hughes Aircraft
1991 - 1992
Former Staff
United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
Former Staff
Assembly Member Tony Cardenas
Other Experience1 - 24 of 24
Member
Executive Committee on Sustainability, National Conference of State Legislatures
207 - 2014
Former Member
Board of Directors, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
2010 - Current
President
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
1999 - 2010
Committee Officer
National Conference of State Legislatures
2007 - 2008
President
League of California Cities
2005 - 2006
Chair
Los Angeles Leadership Council, American Diabetes Association
2005 - Current
Member
California Film Commission
2001 - Current
Member
Board, Children's Museum of Los Angeles
2001 - Current
Member
Advisory Board, Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND)
2000 - Current
Member
Los Angeles Building and Safety Commission
1997 - 1999
Participant
Coro Fellowship Program in Leadership and Public Affairs
1995
Former Board Member
League of California Cities
Former Member
Board of Trustees, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Corporation
Former Chair
Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Joint Committee on the Legislative Budget, California State Senate
Former Member
Joint Committee on Rules, California State Senate
Former Member
Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Appropriations Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Public Employment and Retirement Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Natural Resources and Water Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, California State Senate
Former Member
Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, California State Senate
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