Polling Average
15%10%5%0%
11.6%
12.8%
11.5%
10.6%
California Governor winner?
$46.3M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age53 years old (Mar 22, 1973)
GenderMale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Notable personal detailsAlex Padilla is a U.S. Senator from California, first appointed in January 2021 and elected to a full term in November 2022. He previously served as California Secretary of State (2015–2021), a California State Senator, and a member (and president) of the Los Angeles City Council. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has focused on election administration, voting rights, and other public-policy issues.
SourcesShowHide
padilla.senate.govsenate.goven.wikipedia.orgx.comalex-padilla.comfacebook.comcalmatters.digitaldemocracy.orgboldpac.comes.wikipedia.orgfec.govjudiciary.senate.govsos.ca.govlatimes.comsfchronicle.comlinkedin.comwashingtonpost.comedition-prod-cf.sitemirror.cnn.compr.linkedin.comcontent.linkedin.comlegal.x.combusiness.linkedin.comapnews.comwikidata.orgcongress.govcdn.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for working families and disaster survivors, backs refundable tax credits such as the expanded Child Tax Credit, and opposes large tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy while supporting tax incentives for clean energy and disaster mitigation. Advocates preserving social programs that would be cut to pay for wealthy tax breaks and has sponsored/endorsed legislation providing specific tax relief measures.
Healthcare
Supports guaranteeing health care as a right and has sponsored/endorsed Medicare for All legislation while also backing measures to expand access and address inequities in care. Advocates for protecting and expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies and lowering prescription drug costs. Sponsors bipartisan bills to increase access to specialty and digital health services and legislation to make equitable health care a protected civil right.
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Immigration & Border
Supports expanding legal pathways to permanent residency and pathways to citizenship, protecting DACA recipients and Dreamers, and opposing policies that restrict asylum access or enable mass deportations. Criticizes Republican border proposals that would dismantle asylum protections and calls for humanitarian, root-cause approaches rather than militarized enforcement.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports codifying the right to abortion into federal law, opposes restrictive state bans, and has sponsored/co-sponsored legislation to protect abortion access, medication abortion, providers, and interstate travel for reproductive care. Describes abortion as a fundamental right and advocates for federal protections to restore and guarantee nationwide access. Has repeatedly introduced and backed bills and resolutions to preserve and expand reproductive freedom.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action including major clean energy investments, policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and measures to decarbonize infrastructure and protect climate-vulnerable communities. Has cosponsored the Green New Deal resolution, backed large federal investments in clean ports, energy-efficiency and residential solar incentives, and emphasizes climate resilience and environmental justice.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports significant federal gun safety measures including raising the minimum age to purchase assault weapons, banning or restricting high-capacity magazines, expanding background checks, and implementing policies (including red flag-related provisions) to keep guns away from those at risk of committing violence. Has sponsored and cosponsored legislation to restrict access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and to cut federal contracts with dealers whose firearms are disproportionately linked to violent crime.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
Alex Padilla is in the news as one of several Democrats running in California’s crowded 2026 governor’s race, which party leaders worry could split the vote under the top-two primary system. State Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks urged lower-polling candidates to reconsider and drop out ahead of the filing deadline, warning Democrats could miss the general election entirely if two Republicans advance. That push to consolidate largely failed, with most candidates staying in and only Ian Calderon exiting and endorsing Eric Swalwell.
padilla.senate.gov+24
Articles
UNU.S. News & World Report3 months ago
Top California Democrat Flops With Call for Candidates to Exit Governor's Race
Neutral
UNU.S. News & World Report3 months ago
Fearing GOP Upset, Top California Democrat Urges Lagging Candidates for Governor to Drop Out of Race
Neutral
UTUSA TODAY3 months ago
Can't win in primary election? Drop out, California Democrats say
Neutral
CNCBS News4 months ago
California governor's race simulator shows 2 Republicans likely advancing through primary
Neutral
Polls
California governor primary: 3rd place
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$11.8M
$8.8M
$5.9M
$2.9M
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$11.8M
$7.5M
$4.6M
$190.3K
Cycle 2024
$754.2K
$6.6M
$1.6M
$65.2K
Cycle 2026
$1.3M
$7.2M
$735.7K
$49.0K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements