U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is closely favored within the June election. However the veteran Democrat is going through a extremely uncommon election cycle.

Here’s a rundown:

Atypical election cycle

Padilla, who’s searching for a full six-year Senate time period in 2022, will now should run in concurrent elections to proceed serving the rest of Kamala Harris’ stint. Voters will see two races — a particular Senate election masking the Harris time period that ends this yr and the usually scheduled one for a six-year time period that begins in January — subsequent to one another on the poll in June after which once more in November.

Padilla was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom after Harris left her Senate submit to function U.S. vp.

Previous to Harris’ resignation and Padilla’s appointment, a Senate emptiness in the course of an elected time period had not occurred in California since 1991, when newly elected Gov. Pete Wilson appointed Republican John Seymour to fill the remaining two years of Wilson’s Senate time period. Seymour misplaced his bid to stay in workplace in 1992 to Democrat Dianne Feinstein.

The race

There are greater than 20 individuals working for Senate, however Padilla and one Republican opponent have emerged from the pack.

Padilla is a longtime Los Angeles politician who made historical past when he turned California’s first Latino U.S. senator. His closest Republican opponent is constitutional lawyer Mark P. Meuser.

In response to a brand new L.A. Instances ballot, 44% of doubtless voters help Padilla, with Meuser a distant second with 14% help.

Meuser has been a critic of a few of California’s coronavirus well being restrictions, even submitting lawsuits in opposition to Newsom. He has additionally slammed Padilla and Democrats for inflation and the state of the economic system. Padilla was a backer of President Biden’s “Construct Again Higher” plan and the Democrats’ infrastructure spending plan in addition to local weather and immigration laws.

Studying record

A socialist, a billionaire, a podiatrist: Alex Padilla’s Senate challengers in California
(Sacramento Bee)

U.S. Senate candidates debate points
(NBC San Diego)

Meet the candidates for U.S. Senate
(23 ABC Information)

Statements from the U.S. Senate candidates
(California Secretary of State)

Why is that this U.S. Senate election cycle so unusual?
(Sacramento Bee)

Alex Padilla going through first election after appointment
(Sam Francisco Chronicle)

Profile: Alex Padilla
(Los Angeles Instances)

Interview with Mark Meuser
(KUSI-TV)

Will Republicans ever win statewide workplace once more in California?
(CalMatters)