Hello and Happy Father’s Day!

I'm inspired by the spirit of today to share a little more about my dad Santos.

You've probably seen him standing by me during many milestones – celebrating with Angela and me on election night, cheering our three boys on at little league games, and on an occasional social media post. But what you may not know is just how big of an example he set for me.

My dad and me enjoying pozole.

My dad came to the United States from Mexico with only an elementary school education, but he came with big dreams of a better life and an incredible work ethic to achieve them. He started working as a dishwasher before moving up to head cook at Dupar's, a legendary Los Angeles diner. After working in a hot kitchen for forty years, from Dupar's to Patys in Toluca Lake, he's most proud of the fact that his kitchen never failed an inspection.

As a father of three growing boys and your U.S. Senator, my dad's hard work and commitment to family inspire me every day. I couldn't begin to estimate how many pancakes my dad flipped or how any eggs he scrambled to provide for our family. Seeing him head out to work each day before sunrise without complaint inspires me to work as hard as I can to ensure the American Dream remains in reach for working families.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that my parents and the values they instilled in me have everything to do with me serving in the U.S. Senate, and I proudly bring their perspective with me every day.

My dad and me in his kitchen.

As I think about our work to combat climate change and protect our environment, I channel my father's love of the ocean and marine life — after all he's from Puerto Vallarta!

As I fight to raise the minimum wage, I think about the hard work and dedication it took my mother and father to raise three children on the wages of a cook and a housekeeper.

And as I fight to guarantee health care as a human right, I think about how we were able to see a doctor because my father belonged to a union. And how anxious we were when the restaurant went non-union and health benefits were the first ones to go.

So today I’m grateful for my father’s love, and for his great example. He continues to inspire me every day, as a father myself and as your United States Senator.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Father’s Day!

Alex

Paid For By Alex Padilla for Senate

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