Michael R. Blood
This photo taken from video provided by the Office of the Governor shows California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right during a virtual meeting from his home in Sacramento, Calif., with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Newsom appointed Padilla as the state's next U.S. senator to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. (Office of the Governor via AP)
December 23, 2020 - 7:38 AM
LOS ANGELES - California is getting its first Latino U.S. senator. For Gov. Gavin Newsom, itâs a political gamble.
The Democratic governor Tuesday named Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. When Padilla goes to Washington, the former state legislator will become Californiaâs first Latino senator since the stateâs founding 170 years ago.