XPost: alt.gossip.celebrities, alt.politics.democrats.d, sac.general   
   XPost: alt.rush-limbaugh   
   From: bksherman@bleeding-rectums.cnn.com   
      
   Washington (CNN)Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed California Secretary   
   of State Alex Padilla to fill Vice President-elect Kamala   
   Harris' Senate seat on Tuesday, choosing the first Latino in   
   state history for the role.   
      
   Newsom, who had been under intense pressure within California to   
   choose a Black woman to replace Harris because of the lack of   
   diversity in the US Senate -- tweeted that Padilla's appointment   
   would make history but added that Padilla "is far more   
   interested in changing history -- especially for the working men   
   and women of our state and country."   
      
   "I can think of no one better to represent the state of   
   California as our next United States Senator," Newsom tweeted   
   Tuesday. The California governor extended the offer to Padilla   
   in a video conversation that he released in his tweet.   
      
   Padilla will serve through the duration of Harris' term, and   
   will have to prepare for a highly competitive statewide race to   
   fill the seat in 2022.   
      
   Padilla, the son of a cook and house cleaner who immigrated from   
   Mexico, choked up when speaking to Newsom about his parents on   
   the video as he accepted the position.   
      
   "I'm honored, man, and I'm humbled, because of them," Padilla   
   says.   
      
   In his announcement, Newsom noted that Padilla, 47, had worked   
   his way from "humble beginnings to the halls of MIT," where he   
   got his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He   
   entered politics as an aide to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein   
   of California, was elected to the Los Angeles City Council at   
   the age of 26 and later became the council's youngest president   
   in its history. He moved on to the state Senate in 2006,   
   representing the San Fernando Valley.   
      
   "Through his tenacity, integrity, smarts and grit, California is   
   gaining a tested fighter in their corner who will be a fierce   
   ally in D.C., lifting up our state's values and making sure we   
   secure the critical resources to emerge stronger from this   
   pandemic," Newsom said in a statement. "He will be a Senator for   
   all Californians."   
      
   His appointment will make history. But the @AlexPadilla4CA I   
   know is far more interested in changing history -- especially   
   for the working men and women of our state and country.   
      
   I can think of no one better to represent the state of   
   California as our next United States Senator.   
   pic.twitter.com/xiAzpTS42Y   
      
   — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 22, 2020   
   Newsom chose his longtime political ally after what was   
   described as difficult decision-making process as the governor   
   weighed the competing pressures of the desire to see the first   
   Latino from California in the US Senate and the paucity of Black   
   representation in that chamber.   
      
   There will be no Black women in the Senate after Harris' exit in   
   January to join President-elect Joe Biden's administration. Top   
   contenders for Harris' seat included Rep. Karen Bass, who   
   represents much of South Los Angeles, and Rep. Barbara Lee of   
   Oakland, but neither had as close a relationship to Newsom as   
   Padilla.   
      
   When Newsom ran his first campaign for governor in 2009, Padilla   
   served as his campaign chairman until Newsom dropped out when   
   former Gov. Jerry Brown entered the race. (Newsom ultimately   
   served as lieutenant governor to Brown).   
      
   Padilla, a warm and personable figure who has many allies in   
   California Democratic political circles, had other prominent   
   backers, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' BOLD PAC   
   and Feinstein.   
      
   The California Legislative Black Caucus and other groups had   
   pushed for Bass and Lee to replace Harris. The Women's   
   Foundation of California joined the campaign urging Newsom to   
   appoint a Black woman, enlisting Latina labor icon Dolores   
   Huerta, among others, to sign a letter to the governor.   
      
   "Women's voices are desperately needed, but Black women's voices   
   are especially needed at this time in history," Huerta said in a   
   video she recorded for the push. She said Newsom should take   
   that step "to correct the terrible history of discrimination   
   that Black women have suffered through the ages. And you will   
   actually cement your own legacy as part of the civil rights   
   movement by doing this."   
      
      
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