Los Angeles Democratic Assemblyman John Peréz appears to be in line to become the next speaker of the state Assembly - and the body's first openly gay chief.

San Francisco Chronicle reports:
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said Wednesday that Peréz has secured support of a majority of the Assembly's Democratic Caucus - including herself - and will have enough votes (41 are needed) to become speaker.

It may not be that easy, however: Two other Latino Los Angeles Democrats -- Kevin de Leon and Felipe Fuentes -- had been vying for the leadership position. Fuentes ultimately threw his support behind Peréz, but De Leon, who secured the support of the Assembly's Latino Caucus on Wednesday, "is still a candidate for speaker," said his chief of staff Daniel Reeves.

Bass said she is confident Peréz will win the seat. READ MORE