California places a two-term limit on its constitutional officers, and incumbent Debra Bowen, a fellow Democrat, was unable to run for reelection to the position of Secretary of State, the state's top elections official.
On April 11, 2013, Alex Padilla, then a term limited State Senator, announced his intention to run for the position.
He was expected to face an intraparty battle with fellow Democrat Leland Yee, but Yee's arrest caused him to abandon the race.
Padilla won the election in November against Republican Pete Peterson, who was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, with 53.6% of the vote.
On November 6, 2018, Padilla was re-elected in a landslide over Republican Mark Meuser.
California places a two-term limit on its constitutional officers, and incumbent Debra Bowen, a fellow Democrat, was unable to run for reelection to the position of Secretary of State, the state's top elections official. On April 11, 2013, Alex Padilla, then a term limited State Senator, announced his intention to run for the position. He was expected to face an intraparty battle with fellow Democrat Leland Yee, but Yee's arrest caused him to abandon the race. Padilla won the election in November against Republican Pete Peterson, who was endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, with 53.6% of the vote. On November 6, 2018, Padilla was re-elected in a landslide over Republican Mark Meuser.
Alex Padilla