On April 11, 2013, Padilla announced his intention to run for California secretary of state in 2014, to succeed the term-limited Debra Bowen. He was expected to face an intraparty battle with fellow Democrat Leland Yee, but Yee's arrest for felony racketeering caused Yee to abandon the race.Former Sen. Yee changes plea to guilty , San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2015. Padilla won the election on November 4, 2014, with 53.6% of the vote, defeating Republican Pete Peterson.
