Alejandro "Alex" Padilla is the senior United States Senator from California, a seat he has held since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Padilla was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021 after Kamala Harris was elected vice president. Harris swore Padilla in on January 18, 2021. Padilla subsequently won a special election to complete Harris's term and was elected to a full Senate term in 2022.