December 23, 2020 Share
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 to Washington, the former state legislator will become California’s first Latino senator since the state’s founding 170 years ago.
In picking a personal friend and fellow Democrat, Newsom had his eye on history and pragmatism he turned to someone he could trust with a year of uncertainty looming, including a possible recall election while the pandemic rages unabated.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom tapped Secretary of State Alex Padilla today to fill out the U.S. Senate term of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Padilla oversaw the state s November election, an election with record turnout, and he will be the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. Scott Shafer of member station KQED in San Francisco joins us.
Hey there, Scott.
KELLY: Tell us a little bit more about Padilla and the significance of his selection.
SHAFER: Sure. Well, you know, California is about 40% Latino, so picking Alex Padilla as the first Latino to represent the state in the Senate is emotionally powerful as well as historic. And about his background - he s 47 years old. His parents were both born in Mexico, although they met in Los Angeles, where Padilla grew up. His immigrant parents were working-class. His dad worked as a cook. His mom cleaned houses.
Newsom to pick first black woman for California secretary of state: Report Print this article
California s personnel shake-up continued Tuesday amid reports Gov. Gavin Newsom will tap a state assemblywoman to be secretary of state.
Newsom chose Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to fill the role, according to the
Los Angeles Times, citing a source close to the governor. Weber, a 72-year-old retired professor who represented parts of San Diego and its eastern suburbs in the state Legislature, will be the first black woman to be the state s top elections official.
Weber has represented California s 79th Congressional District since 2012 and became known for her impassioned speeches during debates on the floor. She s considered by other lawmakers as a moral authority in the Legislature and has taken on a number of issues, including use of force by police officers and racial injustice.
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Twitter has confirmed that the official US presidential accounts will be wiped of their millions of followers before being transferred to the Biden administration.
Mr Biden’s team “fought” the plan, but the social media giant said its decision was “unequivocal”.
The move marks a reversal from the last transition.
Twitter agreed to Donald Trump’s request in 2016 to inherit Barack Obama’s millions of followers.
“In 2016, the Trump administration absorbed all of President Obama’s Twitter followers on @POTUS and @WhiteHouse – at Team 44’s urging,” Rob Flaherty, the president-elect’s digital director, tweeted on Monday.
“In 2020, Twitter has informed us that as of right now the Biden administration will have to start from zero.”