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Kamala Harris Senate replacement
[h1]Democrats Angling for Kamala Harris Seat[/h1] [link=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/californias-most-intense-campaign-the-private-pursuit-of-harris-senate-seat-432928]Politico[/link]:
At least [link=https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/08/11/let-the-next-california-parlor-game-begin-who-would-replace-harris-1307489]a dozen California Democrats[/link] are seriously in the mix, and their supporters, donors and staffers are jostling behind the scenes to make their case. In this deep-blue state, where no Republican has won statewide in 14 years, a Senate seat could be the closest it gets to a lifetime appointment.
When a Senate seat goes vacant in California, the governor can appoint a replacement without calling a special election, and Newsom’s pick would serve the remaining two years on Harris’ term before facing the voters with the huge advantage of incumbency. The governor does have the ability to name a caretaker and call a special election, but sources do not expect him to go that route.
Based on POLITICO interviews with more than 20 state political insiders, the short list is still topped by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, a longtime Newsom supporter who would be the first Latino U.S senator in Californias 170-year history. Latino residents now comprise a plurality with 39 percent of the state’s population.
Another son of Mexican immigrants is high atop the list: Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who isnt as close to the governor but has an established presence in Washington after serving 12 terms in Congress.
Both have consistently been in the public eye, Becerra by filing dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration and Padilla by defending the integrity of California’s elections system during the pandemic. Besides being experienced leaders who would make history, each would leave Newsom a second vacancy to fill upon leaving his own office.
Another top contender is Rep. Karen Bass, head of the Congressional Black Caucus who made Bidens VP short list [link=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/24/karen-bass-biden-vp-380583]after elevating her national profile this year[/link].
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