Newsom Names Padilla U.S. Senator, Weber Secretary of State

On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his selection of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to be the next United States Senator from California, filling the term being vacated by Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. Padilla was first sworn in as California’s Secretary of State in January 2015 after serving in the California State Senate and as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Padilla is set to become the first Latino U.S. Senator from California.

To fill the vacancy being created by Padilla’s appointment to the U.S. Senate, Governor Newsom also on Tuesday announced his intent to nominate Assembly Member Dr. Shirley Weber as the next California Secretary of State. Weber has served in the California State Assembly since 2012 and is the former President of the San Diego Board of Education. Weber was previously a professor at San Diego State University for 40 years. Additionally, Weber has served as the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and will be the first African American Secretary of State in California history. Weber’s nomination must be reviewed and confirmed by the California Legislature.

The announcement of Secretary Padilla’s appointment is available here. The announcement of Assembly Member Weber’s nomination is available here.