On November 3, 2009, California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi was elected to the United States House of Representatives representing , leaving the office of lieutenant governor vacant [REF].
Pasquil's appointment marked several firsts for the position: she became California's first Asian lieutenant governor;[REF] its first Filipino lieutenant governor;[REF] its first female lieutenant governor;[REF] and the first California acting lieutenant governor not to succeed to the position from the President pro tempore of the California State Senate [REF].