Career Timeline of Alex Padilla: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Alex Padilla built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Alex Padilla is the senior United States Senator from California since 2021. A Democrat, he previously served as California's 30th Secretary of State from 2015 to 2021. Before becoming Secretary of State, Padilla was a member of the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council, marking a career dedicated to public service in California.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1993: First Male U.S. Senator from California

In December 2020, when Alex Padilla was appointed to the U.S. Senate, he became the first male U.S. senator from California since Alan Cranston retired in 1993.

1995: Joined Democratic Party

In 1995, Alex Padilla became a member of the Democratic Party, influenced by his response to California Proposition 187.

1996: Campaign Manager for Tony Cárdenas

In 1996, Alex Padilla served as a campaign manager for Assemblyman Tony Cárdenas.

1997: Campaign Manager for Gil Cedillo

In 1997, Alex Padilla served as a campaign manager for Assemblyman Gil Cedillo.

1998: Campaign Manager for Richard Alarcon

In 1998, Alex Padilla served as a campaign manager for State Senator Richard Alarcon.

July 1, 1999: Sworn in as Los Angeles City Council Member

On July 1, 1999, at the age of 26, Alex Padilla was sworn in as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, succeeding Richard Alarcon.

September 13, 2001: Acting Mayor of Los Angeles

On September 13, 2001, two days after the 9/11 attacks, Alex Padilla became the acting mayor of Los Angeles while Mayor James K. Hahn traveled out of the city.

2005: Chaired Los Angeles Leadership Council

Since 2005, Alex Padilla has chaired the Los Angeles Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association.

2006: Elected to State Senate

In 2006, Alex Padilla was elected to the State Senate, succeeding Richard Alarcon.

2008: Authored Legislation on Calorie Information

In 2008, Alex Padilla authored legislation that passed, requiring some restaurants to disclose calorie information on menus.

2008: Sponsored Bill SB 1770

In 2008, Alex Padilla sponsored the bill SB 1770, which would require the Commission on Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) to prepare relevant guidelines and mechanisms for the investigation and reporting of "cases involving anti-reproductive-rights crimes".

2010: Re-elected to State Senate

In 2010, Alex Padilla was re-elected to the State Senate, winning nearly 70% of the vote.

2012: 0% Rating by the American Conservative Union

In 2012, Alex Padilla was given a 0% rating by the American Conservative Union.

April 11, 2013: Announced Candidacy for Secretary of State

On April 11, 2013, Alex Padilla announced his intention to run for California Secretary of State in 2014.

September 2014: Promoted Proposition 67

In September 2014, Alex Padilla promoted what would later become Proposition 67, a proposed ban on plastic bags.

November 4, 2014: Won Election for Secretary of State

On November 4, 2014, Alex Padilla won the election for California Secretary of State, defeating Republican Pete Peterson with 53.6% of the vote.

November 30, 2014: Left office as State Senator

On November 30, 2014, Alex Padilla left office as a State Senator after serving two terms.

January 5, 2015: Sworn in as Secretary of State

On January 5, 2015, Alex Padilla was officially sworn into office as California's Secretary of State, concurrent with Jerry Brown's fourth term.

2015: Became Secretary of State

In 2015, Alex Padilla became the 30th Secretary of State of California, a position he held until 2021.

November 8, 2016: Proposition 67 Voted On

On November 8, 2016, while Alex Padilla was Secretary of State, Proposition 67, the ban on plastic bags, was voted on in a referendum and received 53% of the vote in favor.

June 29, 2017: Refused to Provide Voter Data to Presidential Commission

On June 29, 2017, Alex Padilla, as California's Secretary of State, refused to supply data on enrolled voters to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.

November 6, 2018: Re-elected as Secretary of State

On November 6, 2018, Alex Padilla was re-elected as California's Secretary of State with 64.5% of the vote, defeating Republican Mark P. Meuser.

2018: Support from NARAL Pro-Choice America

In 2018, after winning the primary for secretary of state to seek a second term, Alex Padilla received support from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

August 2020: Mentioned as Possible Senate Successor

In August 2020, after Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate, Alex Padilla was mentioned as a possible choice to succeed her in the Senate.

December 2020: Appointed to the U.S. Senate

In December 2020, Governor Newsom announced that he would appoint Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate, making him California's first Hispanic senator.

2020: Padilla orders removal of unofficial ballot drop boxes

In 2020, as California Secretary of State, Padilla issued a cease-and-desist order to the California Republican Party to remove unofficial ballot drop boxes in multiple counties, which Republican officials later admitted they had placed more than 50 misleading ballot boxes in Los Angeles, Orange, and Fresno Counties.

January 15, 2021: Padilla supports legislation to speed up citizenship process

On January 15, 2021, Padilla voiced his support for legislation sponsored by representative Joaquin Castro aimed at expediting the citizenship process for undocumented immigrants in essential jobs, emphasizing that "they deserve stability" because of their contributions.

January 18, 2021: Supported Green New Deal and Medicare For All

On January 18, 2021, Alex Padilla released a statement in support of the Green New Deal and Medicare For All legislation, among other progressive policies.

January 20, 2021: Appointment to the United States Senate

On January 20, 2021, Gavin Newsom appointed Alex Padilla to the United States Senate after Kamala Harris was elected vice president. Harris, as the newly elected vice president, swore Padilla in on the same day.

October 2021: Climate Cannot Be on the Chopping Block

During budgetary discussions in October 2021, Alex Padilla said that "[c]limate cannot be on the chopping block in this or any budget."

2021: Became United States Senator

In 2021, Alex Padilla became the senior United States senator from California.

2021: Newsom Appoints Padilla to Senate

In 2021, Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to the Senate, recognizing him as "a national defender of voting rights".

June 2022: Condemned Overturning of Roe v. Wade

In June 2022, Alex Padilla condemned the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

November 2022: Ran in Two Senate Elections

In November 2022, Alex Padilla appeared on two ballots: one for a special election to fill the remainder of his term in the 117th Congress, and the other for the new term beginning with the 118th Congress.

November 2022: Won Special and Full Senate Elections

In November 2022, Alex Padilla won both a special election to complete Kamala Harris's term and a full Senate term, defeating Republican nominee Mark Meuser in both elections.

January 2023: Start of the Full Six-Year Term

In January 2023, Alex Padilla secured a regular election for a full six-year term.

September 29, 2023: Became California's Senior Senator

On September 29, 2023, Alex Padilla became California's senior senator upon the death of Dianne Feinstein.

November 2023: Padilla introduces legislation for Puerto Rico plebiscite

In November 2023, Padilla introduced legislation in the Senate to authorize a binding federally sponsored referendum, known as a plebiscite, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status, detailing the transition and implementation of non-territorial status options including statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the U.S.

2023: Voted with Biden 100% of the Time

As of the end of 2023, Alex Padilla had voted with Biden 100% of the time.

April 2024: Padilla votes for Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act

In April 2024, Padilla voted in favor of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for five years including changes to certain restrictions on surveillance under Section 702.

April 2025: Introduced the Fix Our Forests Act

In April 2025, Alex Padilla introduced the Fix Our Forests Act alongside Senators John Hickenlooper, John Curtis, and Tim Sheehy, to improve forest management for wildfire risk reduction.