A coalition of local Latino elected officials and community leaders want Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a Latino man or woman to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate when she vacates her seat in January.
Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas was one of the local leaders who spoke on Thursday in hopes of swaying Newsom in favor of a Latino senator.
“It’s only through having representation that represents the demographics of this state that we will get equity,” she said. “Do the right thing. Think about the many qualified Latinos, Latinas that are vying for this position.”
The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution empowers state governors to make appointments to fill their states’ vacancies in the U.S. Senate. It has happened five times in California history.
But since California became the 31st state in 1850, there has never been a Latino to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
RELATED: ‘She’ll Look Like A Boss’: Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Inspires Young Girls
Having a Latino represent the state in the Senate would break the political glass ceiling in California, UC San Diego political science professor Thad Kousser said
“At that very top level in the U.S Senate and in the governor's office in recent years, that hasn’t been a group that has been represented,” he said. “This is one of the possible opportunities for Gavin Newsom to both make history, but also put in power incredibly well-qualified leaders with long histories of experience.”
With Latinos now comprising nearly 40% of the state's population, local leaders such as Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said now is the time for Newsom to act in appointing one to the Senate seat.
“We are a larger group than any other demographic in California. But even with those numbers we have never held the title of U.S. Senator in California, despite the fact that California itself used to be Mexico,” Gonzalez said. “You think of a place where a Latino or Latina should represent the state in Washington D.C., it’s definitely California.”
Similar calls to action were held in Fresno and Sacramento, and more are planned in Los Angeles and San Jose.
