Alex Padilla
Senator Alex Padilla, a progressive problem-solver, is the first Latino elected to represent
California in the U.S. Senate. The son of immigrants, Padilla grew up in the San Fernando
Valley and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He
was drawn to politics in response to California’s anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Padilla was
elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 and the State Senate in 2006. As California’s
Secretary of State, he oversaw a historic expansion of voting rights and voter participation. As
United States Senator, Padilla has taken action to cut costs for families, combat the climate crisis,
and help thousands of Californians secure millions of dollars owed to them by federal agencies.
Padilla currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration,
Citizenship, and Border Safety. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Budget;
Environment and Public Works; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and
Rules. Padilla lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, Angela, and their three sons,
Roman, Alex and Diego.