So, you’re trying to keep track of who is the senators of california lately? Honestly, it has been a bit of a whirlwind. Between sudden retirements, historic appointments, and a high-stakes election, the roster has changed more in the last few years than it did in the previous three decades.
Right now, in early 2026, California’s two seats in the U.S. Senate are held by Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
Both are Democrats. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who follows California politics, given the state’s deep-blue lean. But the path they took to get there? That's where it gets interesting. We’re talking about the end of the Dianne Feinstein era and the rise of two very different leaders who now carry the weight of nearly 40 million constituents.
Who is the Senators of California: Meet Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff
It’s weird to think that for ages, the names "Feinstein" and "Boxer" were just synonymous with California. Now, it’s a new guard.
Alex Padilla: The Senior Senator
Alex Padilla is actually the "senior" senator here, which feels a bit fast considering he only moved into the role in 2021. He was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy left by Kamala Harris when she became Vice President.
Padilla isn't just a placeholder, though. He’s the first Latino to represent California in the Senate. He’s the son of Mexican immigrants—his dad was a short-order cook and his mom a housekeeper—and he grew up in Pacoima. Before hitting the D.C. circuit, he was California’s Secretary of State and spent years in the State Senate.
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You’ve probably seen him focusing heavily on voting rights and immigration reform. He recently won a full six-year term in 2022, so he isn't going anywhere until at least January 2029.
Adam Schiff: The Junior Senator
Then there’s Adam Schiff. If you follow national news, you definitely know this guy. He became a household name during the Trump impeachment trials while serving in the House of Representatives.
Schiff joined the Senate much more recently. After a massive, expensive, and somewhat heated 2024 campaign against former MLB star Steve Garvey, Schiff officially took over the seat in late 2024 (technically being sworn in for his full term in January 2025).
He replaced Laphonza Butler, who was the temporary appointee after Dianne Feinstein passed away. Schiff is known as a sharp legal mind and a prolific fundraiser. While Padilla often leans into domestic policy and voting mechanics, Schiff has built a reputation on national security and constitutional law.
The Wild Road to the 2024 Election
You might remember the 2024 primary feeling like a total circus. It sort of was.
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Because of the timing of Senator Feinstein's death, voters actually had to vote for the same seat twice on the same ballot. One vote was for the "special election" to finish out the last few months of the old term, and the other was for the brand-new six-year term starting in 2025.
Adam Schiff won both.
He managed to beat out other heavy-hitting Democrats like Katie Porter and Barbara Lee in the primary by essentially boosting the Republican candidate, Steve Garvey, to ensure a "Democrat vs. Republican" general election. It was a classic California political move. In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by millions, if a Democrat makes it to the general election against a Republican, the math is usually already done.
What Do They Actually Do for California?
It’s easy to think of senators as just faces on a TV screen, but they handle the big-picture stuff that affects your daily life. Basically, they are the ones fighting for federal funding for things like:
- Wildfire Prevention: Getting the Forest Service more money to clear brush and manage land.
- Water Infrastructure: Trying to fix the aging systems that keep the Central Valley from drying up.
- Tech Regulation: Since most of the world's tech is in Silicon Valley, these two have a huge say in how AI and privacy laws are shaped.
Padilla serves on the powerful Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. Schiff, given his background, is heavily involved in the "heavy lifting" of legislative strategy in D.C.
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Why This Mix Matters
Having both Padilla and Schiff represents a specific balance for California. You have a Southern California presence (both have deep roots there) but different focus areas.
Padilla often acts as a bridge to the Latino community and focuses on the mechanics of democracy. Schiff is more of a national-scale strategist.
People sometimes forget that representing California is a logistical nightmare. You have the tech hubs of San Francisco, the agricultural powerhouse of the Central Valley, and the massive metro sprawl of L.A. One senator can't be everywhere. Having two veteran politicians who know the state’s "Sacramento" politics helps them navigate the friction between state needs and federal red tape.
Actionable Steps for Californians
If you want to actually interact with your senators (which you should), here is how you do it:
- Check Their Voting Records: Use sites like GovTrack to see if they are actually voting the way they promised during the campaign.
- Contact the Local Offices: Don't bother calling the D.C. office for local issues. Both have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, and San Francisco. They are much more likely to help with passport issues or veteran benefits at the local level.
- Town Halls: Schiff is known for doing digital and in-person town halls. Sign up for their newsletters to get the alerts—social media algorithms usually hide these posts until they're already over.
The "who is the senators of california" question might have a simple answer today, but in a state this big, the political ground is always shifting. For now, Padilla and Schiff are the ones holding the pens.