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Alex Padilla has taken the oath of office and now officially begins his duty representing California as its first Latino U.S. Senator.
I’m so honored and ready to represent Californians in DC! Follow my Senate account at @SenAlexPadilla and use it as one of the many ways to reach me. pic.twitter.com/YoDkHPYfZC
— Alex Padilla (@AlexPadilla4CA) January 20, 2021
He was joined by new senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, who both won runoff elections in Georgia this month against Republican incumbents.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who resigned from the Senate this week ahead of the inauguration, administered the oath. She joked as she began the proceedings that it felt "pretty weird" to be swearing in her successor, Padilla.
Padilla is a former Los Angeles City Council President and state legislator, and most recently served as Califoria's Secretary of State. He is serving out the remainder of Harris' term, which extends through 2022.
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to the seat, despite pressure to appoint a Black woman to replace Harris.
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