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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections and California’s former Secretary of State, convened a voting rights breakfast roundtable with Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Todd Blanche, during a Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing. Blanche was President Trump’s personal attorney in several criminal cases, including Trump’s New York hush...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, and Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, released the following statement following the Trump Administration’s illegal firing...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections and California’s former Secretary of State, convened a voting rights breakfast roundtable with Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Todd Blanche, during a Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing. Blanche was President Trump’s personal attorney in several criminal cases, including Trump’s New York hush...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, and Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, released the following statement following the Trump Administration’s illegal firing...
Ahead of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination hearing, the Senators demand answers to previous letters urging DOJ to abandon any efforts to refund or financially reward convicted January 6 insurrectionists WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking...
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, issued a statement after the Supreme Court ruled that states are allowed to count ballots received...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and California’s former Secretary of State, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), Vice...
WATCH: Padilla: “This supposed SAVE America Act, is a hodgepodge of Trump, of vindictive vendettas, and he’s not going to get his way” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration...
New program will train and deploy Senate staff to serve as official congressional observers to protect against potential interference in 2026 midterms WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee...
WATCH: Padilla: “President Trump couldn’t help but try making America’s 250th birthday all about himself.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee,...
Bill would affirm all Americans’ right to vote, protect voting access nationwide WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, joined U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and nine of...