Top Latino group endorses Padilla for full Senate term

The Latino Victory Fund on Thursday endorsed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) for his first election to the upper chamber seat after his appointment by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in January.

Latino Victory played a role in the appointment process, throwing their weight behind Padilla for the Senate seat vacated by Vice President Harris.

“Alex Padilla’s career in public service is remarkable and unparalleled. He’s got the heart of an activist, the work ethic of the son of immigrants, the dedication of a public servant, and the grit and fire needed in the United States Senate,” said Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund president and CEO.

While technically the 98th most senior senator in the chamber, Padilla has taken a central role in the Senate’s immigration proceedings, scoring chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety.

While Padilla has been a vocal proponent of legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants, he has stopped short of saying he won’t vote for a reconciliation package without immigration provisions, a move immigration advocates have called for.

So far, only four House members have taken that step: Reps. Jesús García (D-Ill.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), all members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Padilla is the first Hispanic U.S. senator from California, a state that is nearly 40 percent Hispanic.

His appointment eased some pressure within the state’s Democratic Party, where the large Latino constituency had long demanded more representation at the statewide elected official level.

But it also raised questions among California’s Black community, as Harris was the only Black woman in the Senate until her inauguration as vice president.

Still, Padilla is expected to win the Democratic primary and the general election in 2022 to serve his first full six-year term in the Senate.

“Latino Victory plays a vital role in elevating Latino leaders across the country to ensure voices from our community have a seat at the table at all levels of government. They advocated hard for my appointment to serve as California’s first Latino senator, and I’m grateful to have their continued support as I’m running for a full term in the United States Senate,” said Padilla.