IRVINE, Calif.—Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is facing criticism from Republican candidates over illegal immigration, parental rights, and vaccine mandates as he campaigns in two separate races for the same U.S. Senate seat in the state primary election on June 7.
Because Padilla was appointed by California Gov. Newsom to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by Vice President Kamala Harris in 2020, he must defeat seven opponents in a special vacancy election to keep the seat for the remainder of the current Senate term ending Jan. 3, 2023. He will also face more than 20 challengers in the top-two primary election for the next full six-year Senate term.
