WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s agenda faces obstacles in the evenly divided Senate. California’s newest Senator, Alex Padilla, D-CA, said he’s ready to work across the aisle.

Padilla said he has close relations with Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris which can help bring more California guidance and influence to his work. Padilla is the first Latino Senator to represent the state of California, which is a historic first, yet he still has big shoes to fill.


What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Alex Padilla was appointed to fill now Vice President Kamala Harris' role

  • Padilla said Harris has given him advice and guidance for the new role

  • Padilla has a unique connection to California’s other Senator, Dianne Feinstein, as well, as he used to be an aide for the 87-year-old politician

  • On Tuesday Padilla announced he will serve on five U.S. Senate Committees

“It’s not just any vacancy I was appointed to fill, but the vacancy left by the now Vice President of the United States,” Padilla said.

Padilla has had a long-standing relationship with Harris. They chatted after the inauguration about their new roles, in a celebratory manner. But Padilla said Harris has also offered much guidance on how he can best serve the golden state. 

“Everything from life tips on how to maintain the balance, going coast to coast over the next several years but also how to settle into the office, staffing advice, tips on getting to know my colleagues and those sorts of things. So, it’s great to know the Vice President is only a phone call or text message away,” Padilla said.

Padilla has a unique connection to California’s other Senator, Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, as well, as he used to be an aide for the 87-year-old politician. Now his time in politics comes full circle as he will work side by side with Feinstein.

“Pretty exciting having worked for her once upon a time, learning a lot from her much earlier in my career. She has been very supportive,” Padilla said. “But I also look forward to bringing my perspective and life journey to the deliberations of the United States Senate.”

Padilla’s top priorities for Californians include beating COVID-19, combatting climate change, and an added focus on immigration, as he is a son of Mexican immigrants himself. 

But Republicans, like Florida Senator Rick Scott, R-FL, said Democrats, like Padilla, aren’t reasonable in their suggested policies and claim the price tag for Biden’s COVID-19 plan is too steep, that California needs to do more to combat wildfires on its own, and insists Democrats' immigration policies are too radical. 

“They’ll pause deportations of illegal immigrants, and implement policies that will create a humanitarian crisis at the border once again. Threatening American safety and depleting border patrol resources,” Scott said.

Padilla acknowledged the Senate’s 50-50 division will pose some challenges when it comes to what he wants to accomplish for the state.

“It may be a small edge in terms of a Democratic majority, but it is the majority none the less,” Padilla said. “Never been afraid to put in the hours the work necessary to make progress for working families and so that’s what we will have to do.”

Padilla said he still has hopes to work with all colleagues to pass items, like COVID-19 relief. Tuesday, Padilla announced he will serve on the U.S. Senate Committees on Budget; Rules and Administration; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC); Environment and Public Works (EPW); and Judiciary.

The impeachment trial in the Senate is set to start on February 9, next Tuesday. Padilla said his vote is set, and that is “clear” the former president incited the insurrection that happened on January 6. Republicans are calling the trial “unconstitutional” for putting a former president and now private citizen up for trial.