Alex Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants who rose over two decades in politics to become California Secretary of State, will be the first Latino to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Padilla, a Democrat from Los Angeles, to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

The governor did not specify when Padilla would take over for Harris, who has yet to resign her seat.

Padilla will serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in 2022, and will then have to run to win a full six year term.