Once it became clear that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had won the 2020 presidential election, among the major questions that some in California started to ask was who Governor Gavin Newsom will appoint as California’s newest senator to replace the seat that Vice President-elect Harris previously held.

Among the names that have initially been discussed are current California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, current Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. Whether or not he’s interested in the position remains to be seen, and most of the time incumbent elected officials punt when asked questions about future political ambitions or possible appointments to a different office, but Garcia is seen by many as a rising star in the Democratic party both here in California and nationwide, and his name is expected to be in the conversation when it’s time for Governor Newsom to make a decision.

Today on AirTalk, Mayor Garcia joins Larry Mantle to talk about his city’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, what

in Long Beach might look like when one is finally available, his thoughts on possibly being chosen to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and more.

Guest:

Robert Garcia, mayor of the City of Long Beach; he tweets