Alex Padilla | Beijing 2022 Winter Games

Kaillie Humphries, left, and Sylvia Hoffmann of the United States react after the women's two-women bobsleigh World Cup race in Igls, near Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Beijing bound: Bobsledder Kaillie Humphries now an American

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 02, 2021 06:40 PM EST

Vice President Kamala Harris talks with Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., on arrival in Oakland, Calif., Monday, April 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Dems push $25B for electric school buses, a Biden priority

By Hope Yen Apr. 21, 2021 11:53 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, front left, greets resident Israel Ortiz after Newsom visited a mobile vaccination site at Ramona Gardens Recreation Center in Los Angeles. As Newsom faces a likely recall, Latino advocates say engaging their communities and providing a more robust response to the pandemic could be keys to his survival. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

In likely California recall, energizing Latino voters is key

By Kathleen Ronayne Mar. 26, 2021 03:02 PM EDT

FILE — In his Dec. 18, 2020 file photo a runner passes the office of the California Employment Development Department in Sacramento, Calif. California reported a significant surge in unemployment claims last week for independent contractors, accounting for more than a quarter of all such climbs nationally and raising concerns about a return of widespread fraud, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California: Criminal rings loot billions in jobless funds

By Michael R. Blood Jan. 25, 2021 08:32 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2020, file photo, Lisa Carrera, a former Los Angeles Unified School history teacher from La Puente, Calif., holds the hand of her grandson Maverick, 2, after casting her ballot in-person at the Top of the Park at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Democrats plan to move quickly on one of the first bills of the new Congress, which would set federal election standards. The For the People Act would require states to offer early voting, same-day registration and the option of absentee voting for all registered voters. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Democrats make federal election standards a top priority

By Christina A. Cassidy Jan. 23, 2021 10:17 AM EST

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris talks with Vice President Mike Pence during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Senate confirms Biden 1st Cabinet pick as Democrats control

By Lisa Mascaro Jan. 21, 2021 12:17 AM EST

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff greet former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Senate confirms Biden 1st Cabinet pick as Democrats control

By Lisa Mascaro Jan. 20, 2021 03:25 PM EST

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The Latest: Fireworks light up sky to celebrate inauguration

Jan. 20, 2021 07:38 AM EST

In this Jan. 6, 2021, photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks from the Senate floor to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington. Now that the House has impeached President Donald Trump for the second time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi must figure out the best strategy for arguing the case before the Senate. Senate rules say the trial must start soon after the chamber receives the article of impeachment, which cites “incitement of insurrection” after an angry mob of Trump’s supporters invaded the Capitol last week. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The Latest: Trump declassifies Crossfire Hurricane material

Jan. 19, 2021 04:32 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Bruce Springsteen performs at the 12th annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit concert at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Iconic artists Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are among the stars who will highlight a primetime virtual celebration televised Wednesday night following President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.(Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP, File)

The Latest: Springsteen, Miranda set for inaugural gala

Jan. 17, 2021 09:20 AM EST

FILE - In this May 17, 2018, file photo, are packs of menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products at a store in San Francisco. California state officials have agreed to delay the effective date of what state lawmakers intended as a Jan. 1 ban on flavored tobacco products, after opponents led by tobacco companies said they filed enough signatures to put the new law to a statewide vote. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

Effective date delayed for California's flavored tobacco ban

By Don Thompson Dec. 27, 2020 11:39 AM EST

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 file photo, voting machines fill the floor for early voting at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. A record-setting 108 million people voted before Election Day, either through early in-person voting or by mailing or dropping off absentee ballots - that represents nearly 70% of all votes cast. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Despite smooth election, GOP leaders seek vote restrictions

By Anthony Izaguirre And Christina A. Cassidy Dec. 26, 2020 08:23 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer speaks during the California GOP fall convention in Indian Wells, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a possible recall election as the nation's most populous state struggles to emerge from the coronavirus crisis. Newsom's challenging year has already encouraged Republicans who have signaled they are likely candidates, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Newsom's 2018 rival, businessman John Cox. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

With his star dimmed, California's Newsom could face recall

By Michael R. Blood Dec. 14, 2020 12:15 AM EST

California Senate sweepstakes: Who gets Kamala Harris' job?

By Michael R. Blood Nov. 12, 2020 09:04 AM EST

First time voter Sarah Facterman votes on a Ballot Marking Device (BMD) inside the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. In-person voting has started in most counties across California. To curb spread of the coronavirus the Legislature allowed counties to offer fewer in-person polling places in exchange for opening them earlier. Voting locations opened Friday in some places and most counties will have it this weekend through Election Day on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Amid pandemic, in-person voting underway in California

By Adam Beam Oct. 31, 2020 01:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2020 file photo, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Mark J. Gonzalez, center, flanked by Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu, right, and others, holds a banner with key vote center locations and social distancing instructions at a news conference outside Staples Center in Los Angeles. Most vote centers in California will open on Saturday. There will be fewer of them available this year because of the coronavirus. While most people will vote by mail, some will still show up to vote in person. State officials are urging people to vote early to avoid lines. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Fewer in-person polling places in California on Election Day

By Adam Beam Oct. 27, 2020 03:31 PM EDT

An official ballot drop box is seen Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. With more than 1.5 million votes already cast in California, state Republican Party leaders on Wednesday said they will not comply with an order from the state's chief elections official to remove unofficial ballot drop boxes from counties with competitive U.S. House races.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

California GOP says it won't remove unofficial ballot boxes

By Adam Beam And Amy Taxin Oct. 14, 2020 08:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2020, file photo, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, left, and Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley hold a news conference on Orange County's comprehensive plans to safeguard the election and provide transparency in Santa Ana, Calif. California election officials have received reports that unofficial ballot drop boxes were placed in several counties and said these set-ups are illegal. The Orange County Register reports Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, that Secretary of State spokesman Sam Mahood said boxes were reported in Fresno, Los Angeles and Orange counties at locations including political party offices, candidate headquarters and churches. He said the state was looking into the origin of the boxes. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

California orders GOP to remove unofficial ballot boxes

By Amy Taxin And Adam Beam Oct. 12, 2020 09:44 PM EDT

FILE - California Secretary of State Alex Padilla talks during a news conference Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. “It is appalling that Congress has not provided the needed resources for state and local elections officials during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Padilla. “Elections officials’ ability to fill the gap is nearly impossible given the already strained state and local government budgets.”(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Inaction by Congress leaves states to pay for election costs

By Christina A. Cassidy Aug. 11, 2020 12:21 AM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, file photo, Lydia Harris, a temporary worker at the Sacramento Registrar of Voters, looks over a mail-in ballot before it is sent to be counted in Sacramento, Calif. Over 100,000 mail-in ballots were rejected by election officials in California's March 2020 presidential primary, highlighting a glaring gap in the effort to ensure every vote is counted as a national dispute rages over the integrity of vote-by-mail elections. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California rejected 100K mail-in ballots because of mistakes

By Michael R. Blood Jul. 13, 2020 09:33 AM EDT