Alex Padilla is a lifelong Californian. He was born and raised in the proud, working class community of Pacoima, in the San Fernando Valley. Alex’s parents immigrated to Los Angeles from different parts of Mexico in the 1960s. Once in California, they met, fell in love, and applied for green cards.
Alex’s parents had little formal education, but they shared a strong work ethic and big dreams. For forty years, Alex’s father worked as a short order cook in various Los Angeles diners. For the same forty years, his mom worked cleaning houses. They instilled in Alex, his sister, and his brother the importance of getting a good education as well as the value of service to others. As a result, Alex spent many weekends at community clean-ups and other neighborhood service projects.
Alex is fighting to make the American dream a reality for all communities. He is committed to supporting a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and proudly cast one of his first votes for the American Rescue Plan Act. Alex believes that a twenty-first century economy must meet the needs of working families, including by raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, making permanent the recent historic increases in the Child Tax Credit, and ensuring that we develop our workforce to boldly address the climate crisis.