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Vice President-elect Harris to resign her Senate seat Monday

Joe Biden
Posted at 9:03 AM, Jan 17, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-17 09:03:11-05

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will resign her Senate seat on Monday, two days before she and President-elect Joe Biden are inaugurated.

Aides to the California Democrat confirm the timing and say Gov. Gavin Newsom is aware of her decision.

That clears the way for Newsom to appoint fellow Democrat Alex Padilla, now California’s secretary of state, to serve the final two years of Harris’ term.

Padilla will be the first Latino senator from California, where about 40% of residents are Hispanic.

Harris will give no farewell Senate floor speech as the Senate isn't scheduled to reconvene until Tuesday, the eve of Inauguration Day.