Alex Padilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex Padilla
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Deb Fischer |
| United States Senator from California |
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| Assumed office January 20, 2021 Serving with Adam Schiff
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| Preceded by | Kamala Harris |
| 30th Secretary of State of California | |
| In office January 5, 2015 – January 20, 2021 |
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| Governor | Jerry Brown Gavin Newsom |
| Preceded by | Debra Bowen |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Weber |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 20th district |
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| In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Alarcon |
| Succeeded by | Connie Leyva |
| President of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| In office July 4, 2001 – January 1, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | John Ferraro |
| Succeeded by | Eric Garcetti |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 7th district |
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| In office July 1, 1999 – December 4, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Alarcon |
| Succeeded by | Richard Alarcon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 22, 1973 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Angela Monzon
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Alex Padilla (born March 22, 1973) is an American politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for California. He has held this important job since 2021.
Before becoming a senator, Padilla was the Secretary of State of California. He also served in the California State Senate and on the Los Angeles City Council. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
California's Governor Gavin Newsom chose Padilla to be a U.S. Senator. This happened after Senator Kamala Harris became the Vice President. Padilla was sworn into office on January 20, 2021. In November 2022, he won elections to keep his Senate seat. He became California's senior senator in September 2023. This happened after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away.
Early Life and Education
Alex Padilla was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Santos and Lupe Padilla, moved to the U.S. from Mexico. They met and married in Los Angeles. His parents later became U.S. citizens. His father worked as a cook, and his mother was a housekeeper.
Padilla grew up in Pacoima, Los Angeles. He went to San Fernando High School. In 1994, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also completed a program at the Coro Fellows Southern California Program in 1995.
Early Career in Politics
After college, Padilla returned to Pacoima. He worked briefly as an engineer. He wrote software for satellite systems.
Padilla has been involved in many groups. He was on the governing board of MIT. He was also president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). This group has over 6,000 Latino officials in the U.S. He has also led the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association.
Padilla started in politics with the Democratic Party in 1995. He was inspired by a law called California Proposition 187. This law tried to stop public services for undocumented immigrants. Padilla worked as an assistant for Senator Dianne Feinstein. He also managed campaigns for other Democratic politicians.
Serving on the Los Angeles City Council
On July 1, 1999, Alex Padilla joined the Los Angeles City Council. He was 26 years old. Two years later, his fellow council members chose him as council president. He was the first Latino and the youngest person to hold this position.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Padilla became the acting mayor of Los Angeles for a few days. This happened while Mayor James K. Hahn was out of the city. His role as acting mayor helped his political career. During his time as City Council president, Padilla also led the California League of Cities. He was the first Latino to do so.
Becoming a California State Senator
After leaving the Los Angeles City Council, Padilla was elected to the California State Senate in 2006. He won reelection in 2010. He served two terms in the State Senate.
As a state senator, he worked on several committees. He focused on topics like business, labor, and public policy. In 2012, he was named a rising star in Latino politics. In 2014, Padilla supported a ban on plastic bags. This ban was later approved by voters in 2016. He also wrote a law in 2008 that required some restaurants to show calorie information on their menus.
California Secretary of State (2015–2021)
In 2013, Padilla announced he would run for California Secretary of State. This office manages elections and keeps state records. He won the election in November 2014. He was sworn into office on January 5, 2015.
In 2017, a group created by President Donald Trump asked for voter data from all states. Padilla said California would not provide this information. He was reelected as Secretary of State in 2018.
In 2020, Padilla was involved in a disagreement with the California Republican Party. The party had set up unofficial ballot boxes for voters. Padilla said these boxes were not allowed and could make ballots unsafe. The Republican Party said they were trying to help people vote. Padilla's office continued to investigate the situation.
Padilla also started a voter education campaign called "Vote Safe California." This campaign aimed to help people vote safely. When Padilla was appointed to the U.S. Senate, Shirley Weber took over as Secretary of State.
U.S. Senate (2021–Present)
Appointment to the Senate
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In August 2020, Kamala Harris, then a California Senator, became the running mate for presidential candidate Joe Biden. After they won the election, Governor Newsom had to choose someone to fill Harris's Senate seat. In December 2020, Newsom announced he would appoint Padilla. This made Padilla California's first Hispanic senator. He was sworn in on January 20, 2021.
Senate Elections
Padilla decided to run for a full Senate term in 2022. He appeared on two ballots that year. One was for a special election to finish Harris's term. The other was for a new six-year term. He won both elections in November 2022.
Work as a Senator
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As a U.S. Senator, Padilla has worked on several important issues. He has introduced laws to protect public lands in California. These include parts of the San Gabriel Mountains and Los Padres National Forest. He also proposed laws to help coastal communities. These laws would help them deal with rising sea levels and erosion.
Padilla has often voted in line with President Biden's policies.
June 2025 Incident
On June 12, 2025, Senator Padilla attended a press conference. It was held by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Padilla tried to ask a question during the event. He was then asked to leave by security. He later said he wanted to ask about immigration policies. The Secretary and others said Padilla had acted inappropriately. Padilla said he was trying to get answers to important questions.
Committee Assignments
Padilla serves on several important Senate committees. These committees discuss and create laws.
- Committee on the Judiciary: This committee deals with laws and the justice system.
- Committee on the Budget: This committee works on the government's spending plans.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee focuses on environmental issues and public projects.
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: This committee handles energy and natural resource policies.
- Committee on Rules and Administration: This committee oversees Senate rules and daily operations.
Caucus Memberships
Padilla is part of several groups in Congress. These groups are called caucuses. They bring together senators who share common interests.
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Senate Cultural Caucus
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Rare Disease Caucus
Political Views
Padilla is seen as a moderate Democrat. This means he often tries to find common ground. He is not always on the far left or far right of his party. He has supported policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare For All.
Climate and Environment
Padilla strongly supports climate action. He believes that protecting the environment is very important. He supports the Green New Deal. This plan aims to address climate change and create jobs. He has received high ratings from environmental groups.
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Voting Rights
Padilla is known for working to make voting easier for everyone. As California's Secretary of State, he was called a "national defender of voting rights." He has worked to ensure fair elections.
Puerto Rico's Status
In November 2023, Padilla introduced a bill in the Senate. This bill would allow people in Puerto Rico to vote on their future. They could choose to become a U.S. state, an independent country, or have a special partnership with the U.S.
Personal Life
Alex Padilla married Angela Monzon in 2012. They have three sons. They live in the San Fernando Valley in California. In 2015 and 2016, a gas leak near their home caused them to temporarily move out.
Images for kids
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Alex Padilla's signature
See also
In Spanish: Alex Padilla para niños
