Alex Padilla Will Replace Kamala Harris in the Senate

On Twitter, Ms. Lee congratulated Mr. Padilla as “a skilled legislator and a steadfast advocate for justice,” Ms. Bass cheered “another historic barrier shattered” and Mr. Garcia promised his “100% support in his 2022 re-election.”

Nathalie Rayes, president and chief govt of the Latino Victory Fund, which had campaigned for Mr. Padilla, known as the appointment “a long-overdue milestone for the Latino group” and a “daring step towards having a Senate that appears just like the communities it serves.” She added, “His appointment won’t solely improve Latino illustration within the Senate, however it’s going to additionally open the door for future generations of Latino leaders.”

Main California Republicans have been much less impressed. “One of the worst election officials within the nation will go to DC, unelected!!!” tweeted Harmeet Dhillon, a conservative civil rights lawyer and member of the Republican Nationwide Committee.

California’s senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, had endorsed Mr. Padilla, who had labored in her area workplace early in his profession, and on Tuesday she known as the appointment “a superb alternative.” Within the run-up to his appointment, some curiosity teams had known as for Ms. Feinstein herself to step down so the governor may decide two senators — a name that gained traction after a New Yorker article this month instructed that Ms. Feinstein, 87, was experiencing cognitive decline.

The elevation of Mr. Padilla leaves Mr. Newsom with a emptiness within the secretary of state’s workplace, a possible comfort prize for at the least one upset contender. He can even need to appoint a brand new lawyer normal if the Senate confirms Xavier Becerra’s nomination as Mr. Biden’s secretary of well being and human companies.

The lawyer normal put up, particularly, has in recent times served as a springboard for increased workplace; in addition to Mr. Becerra, current attorneys normal embrace Ms. Harris and California’s earlier governor, Jerry Brown.

Alex Vassar, a legislative historian on the California State Library, stated the final California governor to fill three statewide places of work was Earl Warren, who in December 1952 and January 1953 appointed a brand new senator, a state controller and a member of the state Board of Equalization. Pat Brown additionally made three appointments in 1964 and 1965, Mr. Vassar stated, however one was merely to hurry up an incoming senator’s arrival.