Home>Articles>Gov. Newsom Names SOS Alex Padilla to Replace Kamala Harris as U.S. Senator from CA

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris addressing the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, June 1, 2019. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)

Gov. Newsom Names SOS Alex Padilla to Replace Kamala Harris as U.S. Senator from CA

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to replace Padilla as SOS

By Katy Grimes, January 18, 2021 1:04 pm

As Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris prepares to be inaugurated Vice-President at Wednesday’s inauguration, she submitted her formal resignation to California Gov. Gavin Newsom from the United States Senate Monday. As Harris made her resignation formal, Gov. Newsom officially appointed Alex Padilla to California’s U.S. Senate seat.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)

Padilla also this morning resigned his position as California Secretary of State, making his Chief Deputy Secretary of State Acting Secretary of State.

Newsom has appointed Assemblywoman Shirley Weber’s as Padilla’s replacement, but it requires the Legislature to confirm her appointment.

Following Gov. Newsom’s December 22nd appointment of Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate, State Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Granite Bay) warned that there are legal issues with Newsom’s appointment as the Constitution requires an election. Kiley went so far as obtaining a Legal Opinion from the Office of the Legislative Counsel confirming this is a Constitutional problem, and something he has also already shared with Governor Newsom.

As Kiley explained, the Legislative Counsel’s Office concluded in a 10-page written response:

  • That “the Seventeenth Amendment requires the Governor to issue a writ of election” to fill the vacancy that will be created by Senator Harris’ resignation.
  • That the Seventeenth Amendment requires that “the person elected in the vacancy election takes office before the end of the existing term.”

Kiley followed up with a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, explaining the legal opinion by the State of California Office of the Legislative Counsel, and asking them to “consider whether the legal issues relating to the appointment raised by the Legislative Counsel Opinion require resolution before Mr. Padilla is seated.”

Despite the Legislative Counsel’s agreement with Kiley, by all appearances he is being ignored by the governor, and Senators McConnell and Schumer.

Shirley N. Weber
Assemblywoman Shirley N. Weber. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)

Gov. Newsom’s press statement Monday said, “State law empowers the Governor to fill vacancies to the U.S. Senate and, subject to confirmation by the State Senate and Assembly, the Secretary of State. Governor Newsom announced his selection of Padilla and Dr. Weber in December.”

The Governor also formally submitted his nomination letter for Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to the State Senate President pro Tempore and Assembly Speaker to serve as California’s next Secretary of State.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Spread the news:

 RELATED ARTICLES

9 thoughts on “Gov. Newsom Names SOS Alex Padilla to Replace Kamala Harris as U.S. Senator from CA

  1. No surprise that the people have no voice. I never thought I’d live to see this day. Everything is so f#@$ed up in our country and especially California. I just keep shaking my head.

    1. Hey showandtell, did you see where I posted 2 people refused to sign my Recall petition because they were afraid they would be tracked down and punished in some way. They wanted to sign but were to scared.

      1. Wow. At the same time I’m not surprised to hear it in this atmosphere we are in.
        Not sure they are up to the job, though, of tracking everyone down! A LOT of people have signed.
        Almost 1.2 million at last count.

      2. Stacy, thought you might be interested in this. Sort of a boost, especially toward the end of the interview.
        “Randy Economy, Senior Advisor to the Gavin Newsom Recall campaign, talks to John Phillips, KABC-AM 790.” (See the 2 p.m. hour, 1/18/21. Begins at the 1:05 marker, goes about 18 mins.):
        https://www.kabc.com/the-john-phillips-show/

  2. At least we’ll have continuity, since we’re replacing one incompetent, corrupt, worthless, lying senator for another incompetent, corrupt, worthless, lying career politician.

  3. Comrades
    Why worry…..inevitable….the pain for the average resident will be immense. Gas has gone up 10-30 cents a gallon already….got a note from our primary care doctor today….charging wife and I $600.00 per year a separate administrative fee….costs rising, red tape rising, cost of living rising, insurance rising, energy rising…..so there, yes there……..just pay and pay till you can’t pay…whew!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *