Voting and Civil Rights

Alex believes that our democracy is strongest when every eligible American participates. That’s why he’s spent his career fighting to expand and preserve voting rights. While serving as California’s Secretary of State, Alex implemented automatic and same-day voter registration, expanded vote-by-mail, and launched early vote centers. These key reforms led to record voter registration and participation in California and have become a model for the rest of the nation.  In the U.S. Senate, Alex is a champion for stronger voting rights, bipartisan election administration reforms, and increased funding to modernize and secure our elections.

And because Alex believes in an America made stronger by its diversity, he’s consistently fought to protect the civil rights of all Americans. In the face of an alarming rise in hate crimes over the last few years, Alex cosponsored legislation, later signed into law by President Biden, to address the rise in hate crimes and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because Americans of every race, faith, and belief deserve to be treated with dignity.

Recent News

Following new DOJ demand to block certain ballots in California, Senators urge DOJ to follow the law and reaffirm its longstanding election non-interference policy ahead of 2026 midterm elections, warning that “DOJ action that could spoil an election would be...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s In the Arena with Kasie Hunt to blast the Trump Administration’s baseless lawsuit to interfere in California’s 2026 midterm election. Key Excerpts:   On the DOJ’s Lawsuit The Administration is clearly...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice sued California’s Secretary of State and Los Angeles County’s Registrar Recorder to prevent them from...
Following new DOJ demand to block certain ballots in California, Senators urge DOJ to follow the law and reaffirm its longstanding election non-interference policy ahead of 2026 midterm elections, warning that “DOJ action that could spoil an election would be...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s In the Arena with Kasie Hunt to blast the Trump Administration’s baseless lawsuit to interfere in California’s 2026 midterm election. Key Excerpts:   On the DOJ’s Lawsuit The Administration is clearly...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice sued California’s Secretary of State and Los Angeles County’s Registrar Recorder to prevent them from...
Ranking Members also press DOJ and FBI to provide information related to the agencies’ coordination with DHS, the U.S. Intelligence Community, and the White House in these efforts to undermine our election security WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex...
First-of-its-kind Senate program will put trained congressional observers on the ground to document any voter interference or threats to election workers in 2026 midterm Senate contests as Trump escalates efforts to undermine election integrity WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator...
Whistleblower reveals White House, DOJ leadership, and FBI leadership pressured FBI employees to illegally investigate protesters of this Administration’s cruel mass deportation agenda FBI leadership allegedly acknowledged unconstitutionality of the investigations and nonetheless instructed employees to proceed WASHINGTON, D.C. —...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and Adam Schiff (both-D-Calif.), pressed the top executives of the largest social media companies about their plans to combat misinformation and disinformation on...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, took to the Senate floor in opposition to Republicans’ so-called Stop Insider Trading Act, which would allow members of Congress who already...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in reintroducing the Police Training and Independent Review Act,legislation that would help prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials’ use of deadly...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking...