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 18, 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 18, 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, 2007 |
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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 |  |
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 from 2015 to 2021. He also served in the California State Senate and on the Los Angeles City Council.
California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, chose Padilla to be a U.S. Senator. This happened after Senator Kamala Harris became the Vice President. Vice President Harris officially swore Padilla into office on January 20, 2021.
In November 2022, Padilla won two elections. He won a special election to finish Senator Harris's term. He also won an election for a full six-year term in the Senate. Padilla became California's longest-serving senator on September 29, 2023. This happened after Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away.
Early Life and Education
Alex Padilla grew up in Pacoima, Los Angeles. His parents, Santos and Lupe Padilla, moved to Los Angeles from Mexico. Alex is one of their three children.
He went to San Fernando High School. After high school, he studied mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his degree in 1994.
Beginning His Career
Working as an Engineer
After college, Padilla returned to Pacoima. He worked briefly as an engineer for a company called Hughes Aircraft. There, he helped write computer programs for satellite systems.
Community Involvement
Padilla has been very involved in his community. He was the president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). This group helps Latino officials across the U.S. He has also led the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association since 2005.
Starting in Politics
Padilla became active in the Democratic Party in 1995. He was inspired to get involved after a law called California Proposition 187 was passed. This law tried to limit public services for undocumented immigrants.
His first political job was helping Senator Dianne Feinstein. He then managed election campaigns for other politicians. These included Assemblyman Tony Cárdenas and State Senator Richard Alarcon. All of the candidates he helped won their elections.
Serving Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Council Member
On July 1, 1999, Alex Padilla became a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was only 26 years old. Two years later, his fellow council members chose him to be their president.
Padilla was the first Latino and the youngest person ever to be elected president of the Los Angeles City Council. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Padilla even served as the acting mayor of Los Angeles for a few days. This happened when Mayor James K. Hahn was out of the city.
While leading the City Council, Padilla also became president of the California League of Cities. He was the first Latino to hold this position too.
Serving California
California State Senator
After his time on the City Council, Padilla was elected to the California State Senate in 2006. He won reelection in 2010. He served two terms, leaving office in November 2014.
As a State Senator, Padilla worked on many important issues. He was part of committees that dealt with money, business, and labor. He also led a committee focused on science and new ideas.
In 2014, Padilla supported a ban on plastic bags in California. This idea was later put to a vote in 2016. Voters approved the ban, making California one of the first states to stop using single-use plastic bags. He also wrote a law in 2008 that made some restaurants show calorie information on their menus.
California Secretary of State
In 2013, Padilla announced he would run for California Secretary of State. This job involves overseeing elections and keeping official state records. He won the election in November 2014 and started his new role in January 2015.
As Secretary of State, Padilla worked to protect voting rights. In 2017, a special commission asked for voter data from every state. Padilla refused to give California's data, saying it was important to protect voter privacy.
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 illegal and could make ballots unsafe. The issue was later resolved with new rules for collecting ballots.
U.S. Senate (2021–Present)
Becoming a Senator
In 2020, Joe Biden chose California Senator Kamala Harris to be his running mate for Vice President. 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 Alex Padilla. This made Padilla California's first Hispanic senator.
Many Latino people in California supported Padilla's appointment. However, some Black leaders wanted another Black woman to replace Harris.
His Work in the Senate
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On January 20, 2021, Padilla was officially sworn into the United States Senate. Vice President Kamala Harris, his predecessor, performed the ceremony. He became the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate.
As a senator, Padilla has worked on several important issues. He has introduced laws to protect public lands in California, like parts of the San Gabriel Mountains. He also proposed laws to help coastal communities deal with rising sea levels and erosion.
Padilla has consistently voted with President Biden on key issues.
Committee Assignments
Padilla serves on several important Senate committees. These committees help create laws and oversee government actions.
- Committee on the Judiciary: This committee deals with laws, courts, and justice. Padilla leads the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety.
- Committee on the Budget: This committee works on the government's spending plans.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee focuses on environmental protection and public projects. Padilla leads the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife.
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: This committee handles energy policy and natural resources.
- Committee on Rules and Administration: This committee oversees Senate rules and administration.
Political Views
Alex Padilla is known for his balanced political views. He supports policies that help the environment and expand voting rights.
Climate and Environment
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Padilla strongly supports action on climate change. He believes that protecting the environment is very important. He has said that the Green New Deal, a plan for climate action, is a big opportunity. In 2021, he received a perfect score from the League of Conservation Voters, a group that supports environmental protection.
Immigration
Padilla supports the rights of immigrants. He believes that immigrants who work in essential jobs deserve stability and a path to citizenship.
Voting Rights
Padilla is well-known for his efforts to make voting easier for everyone. When he was appointed to the Senate, Governor Newsom called him a "national defender of voting rights."
Puerto Rico's Future
In 2023, Padilla introduced a bill to help Puerto Rico decide its political future. This bill would allow Puerto Ricans to vote on whether they want to become a U.S. state, be independent, or have a special partnership with the U.S.
Personal Life
Alex Padilla married Angela Monzon in 2012. They have three sons. The family lives in the San Fernando Valley in California.
See Also
In Spanish: Alex Padilla para niños
Images for kids
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Padilla speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention.
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