Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he will appoint California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the United States Senate, Democratic Majority for Israel President and CEO Mark Mellman issued the following statement:
“Senator-designate Padilla’s deep experience, broad knowledge and extraordinary passion for the people of California make him a perfect choice to fill Vice President-elect Harris’s seat in the Senate. He will continue the proud legacy of California’s senators who fight tirelessly for social justice, equal rights, affordable health care, and our environment, while also recognizing the importance of America’s alliance with Israel based on shared values, as well as on shared economic and security interests.
“Senator-designate Padilla has worked closely with Democratic Majority for Israel and the pro-Israel community to ensure state and national Democratic Party platforms reflected our values, including strong support for the U.S.-Israel alliance. Our leadership was also deeply impressed by Secretary Padilla’s October briefing on his vital work to ensure the integrity of the 2020 election.
“We are filled with pride that Senator-designate Padilla has made history as the first Latino to represent California in the Senate. We look forward to continue working with him on securing Democratic priorities and supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship in his new position.”
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