California Leaders Push Newsom to Pick Latino to Fill Harris’ Empty Senate Seat

Latino leaders in California are pushing Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint a Latino to the Senate seat that will be vacated by the state's Senator Kamala Harris.

In California's 170 year history, there has never been a Latino in the U.S. Senate, said a report from KTVU.

Assemblyman Robert Rivas was among the lawmakers asking Newsom for a Latino representation in the Senate.

"Latinos helped build this state. We grow its food, serve in its national guard (and) contribute so much to its art and culture," Rivas said in a Sacramento Bee report.

Involved in the campaign were several Latino civic engagement and advocacy groups. Some of these groups are the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the Latino Community Foundation, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Newsom's decision will probably be one of his most consequential ones yet. His choice would likely take into account the experience each candidate has.

Harris was the projected winner in the vice presidential race and set to takes her oath on Jan. 20. Her presence in the Senate served several representations as a Black and Indian woman, a child of immigrant parents, and the first female of color to appear on a major party ticket.

Groups Push for Diversity in Senate

According to LAist, groups from different wings of the Democratic Party are working hard to get her seat filled by someone who can embody another step forward in representation.

So Harris' vacancy highlighted the lack of diversity there is in Congress.

Rivas' opinion was concurred by Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. She said Latinos "make up our (California's) economy" and culture and have to be represented.

Through recent years, the nation's legislative arm has grown increasingly diverse. However, most gains come from the House, and the Senate remains a dominantly white and male chamber.

Out of 100 senators, only nine of them identify as Latino, Black or Asian. None of the current senators identify as Native American. Other than that, men also make up most of the upper chamber.

These numbers upset several groups, and they are pressuring Newsom to take them into consideration. They all want to maintain or expand the current level of representation there is in Congress.

'California is Latino'

"California is Latino. Latinos are California," said Martinez Garcel. "The fact that we haven't had representation is really a smear on our history."

She also spoke during a rally in Sacramento pushing for the same agenda: to get a Latino in the Senate. There were roughly 20 organizations that attended the rally.

While none of them dropped names of specific candidates, they said there were many qualified individuals to take on the position.

Some believed to be qualified candidates are California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, former Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

The push for a Latino leader to replace Harris has been in the background since August. More than 500 Latino leaders sent a letter to Newsom, saying a Latino candidate has been long overdue.

As the pandemic hit Latino communities disproportionately, Martinez Garcel said they need "someone who will represent us and fight for us for our communities."

Rallies are expected to continue until Monday next week, Nov. 23, at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. It is not yet clear when Newsom will announce his Senate pick.