Latino Victory to boost Alex Padilla to fill Harris’s potential Senate seat

The Latino Victory super PAC launched a campaign on Wednesday pushing California Secretary of State Alex Padilla as the Democrat who should be appointed to fill Sen. Kamala Harris’s (D-Calif.) Senate seat if she and Joe Biden win the White House this year. 

The Democratic outside group rolled out the “Pick Padilla” initiative to urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to tap Padilla should Harris’s seat become vacant. It launched an initial five-figure digital ad buy that will morph into a six-figure media buy close to election day in November.

“From serving in the Los Angeles City Council to leading the Secretary of State’s office, Secretary Padilla has dedicated his career to public service and has proven to be an effective leader,” said Latino Victory Fund President Nathalie Rayes. “The barrier that stands in front of Latino U.S. Senators in California has stood high for far too long. Latino Victory Fund urges Governor Newsom to appoint Secretary Padilla to the U.S. Senate seat if Senator Harris vacates it.”

The campaign will look to underscore Padilla’s career in public service and his personal story as the son of Mexican immigrants. California has never been represented by a Hispanic senator.

Latino Victory’s campaign was first reported by Politico on Wednesday.

Should Biden and Harris win the November election, Newsom will select someone to serve the rest of Harris’s current term, which ends in January 2023. 

A number of California Democrats have already been floated as possible replacements, including Reps. Karen Bass, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Newsom has also come under pressure to pick a Latino for Harris’s seat from the Latino Community Foundation. That group did not name a specific candidate.