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    Greater LA

    Alex Padilla becomes California’s first Latino US senator

    Former Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn into the U.S. Senate this Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris. California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to fill the vacancy left by Harris.

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    Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.By Steve Chiotakis • Jan 21, 2021 • 8m Listen

    Former Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn into the U.S. Senate this Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris. California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla to fill the vacancy left by Harris. Padilla is the first ever Latino senator of California, only one of six in the entire Senate, and in a state where the population is roughly 40% Latino.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Watching Biden’s inauguration in DC
    1. 0:00Angeleno in DC says he’s proud to wear the American flag again
    2. 7:50Life after Trump for cable news network OAN
    3. 16:36Alex Padilla becomes California’s first Latino US senatorYou’re reading this
    • Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.

      Steve Chiotakis

      Afternoon News Anchor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jenna Kagel

      Radio producer

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kathryn Barnes

      Producer, Reporter

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gustavo Arellano

      columnist, LA Times

      NewsPoliticsLos AngelesCalifornia

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Watching Biden’s inauguration in DC
    1. 0:00Angeleno in DC says he’s proud to wear the American flag again
    2. 7:50Life after Trump for cable news network OAN
    3. 16:36Alex Padilla becomes California’s first Latino US senatorYou’re reading this
    Back to Greater LA