The California Assembly voted 53-21 to approve GOP Sen. Abel Maldonado's lieutenant governor nomination today.

The vote signals an end to a five month confirmation saga. Maldonado, first appointed to the vacant post by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in November, was re-nominated to the job in February after he failed to clear the 41-vote hurdle in the Assembly.

The Senate, which approved the nomination the first go-round, is expected to vote as soon as Monday. If confirmed, Maldonado will fill the remainder of the term started by Democrat John Garamendi, who was elected to Congress in November. He is also running for a full term in the GOP primary.

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