Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), who represents coastal Monterey County,  is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick to fill the vacancy left by John Garamendi, but his colleagues will have the last word on Thursday, Feb 11 when he goes first to the Senate and later to the Assembly for confirmation hearings.

The Senate Rules Committee recommended confirmation by a 4-0 vote, while Assembly Rules chose no recommendation.

Maldonado is a moderate Republican who has made enemies on both sides of the aisle - among Republicans when he crossed party lines to break a budget deadlock last year, and among Democrats because of differences over budget cutting and taxes.

His confirmation could make way for a Democrat to win his seat, putting the Legislature within one vote of a two-thirds Democratic majority.  The district was majority Republican when Maldonado was elected, but Democrats now have the edge. If either house says no to the nomination, the game is over, and Maldonado remains in the Senate.