LOS ANGELES — California is getting its first Latino U.S. senator. For Gov. Gavin Newsom, it’s a political gamble. The Democratic governor Tuesday named Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. When Padilla goes...
Newsom Taps Alex Padilla to Replace Harris in US Senate
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday as the state's next U.S. senator to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The child of Mexican immigrants, Padilla will be California’s first Latino senator, giving a new level of representation to the demographic group...
County GOP Pulls Unofficial Ballot Collection Boxes After Secretary of State Says They’re Illegal
Ballot boxes promoted by the Fresno County GOP were a violation of the law, according to California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a cease and desist order to the state Republican Party, and the Republican Party's of Fresno, Los Angeles and Orange counties. Becerra...
Masks Strongly Encouraged, but Not Required to Vote This November in California
Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office has put out guidance saying Californians don't have to wear COVID-19 masks to vote in November's presidential election. However, mask-less voters may be asked to use a voting station with additional physical distancing to protect the safety of others. Counties also must make disposable...
Padilla on Census, Voter Fraud, and His Future
Secretary of State Alex Padilla is a busy man. Not only is he responsible for running a statewide election in less than 90 days, he is also leading California's census count effort. Padilla, in the middle of his second term as secretary of state, recently visited Fresno, chairing a day-long...
California Sued Again for Requiring Women on Company Boards
SACRAMENTO — California's first-in-the-nation law requiring publicly held companies to put women on their boards of directors is facing a second legal challenge. The law requires publicly traded companies to have at least one woman on their boards by the end of this year. By 2021, boards with five members...
Judge Temporarily Blocks Law Aimed at Trump's Tax Returns
SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a California law aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to release his personal income tax returns in order to appear on the 2020 primary ballot. U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. issued a written opinion saying the law likely violates...
California Defends Tax Return Law After Setback
SACRAMENTO — California's elections chief says he believes a state law requiring presidential candidates to release their tax returns is constitutional despite a legal setback. A federal judge in Sacramento granted a request from President Donald Trump's campaign to block a new state law that requires presidential candidates to release five years...
Assembly Approves Sending Parolee Voting Measure to Ballot
SACRAMENTO — The California Assembly on Thursday narrowly approved putting a measure on the ballot next year that would let tens of thousands of parolees vote in future elections. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and other advocates say ending the ban on voting would help nearly 50,000 felons adjust...
State Elections Chief On Ballot Harvesting and Age 17 Voting
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla wants to make voting easier for everyone. He visited Fresno last month, pushing the Voters Choice Act. Fresno County will implement the system starting next year. The act expands the days that polls are open before an election, sends vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters...