In 1997 he joined the PSOE and was appointed Federal Coordinator for the Environment, a responsibility he held until 2009.

During this stage he worked with the teams of Joaquín Almunia and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero coordinating the sectorial policies of the environment and territorial planning.

After the 2015 election he became mayor through a pact between the PSOE, United Left and Participa Sevilla.

[4] In July 2021, Espadas became the new Secretary General of the PSOE in Andalusia, defeating incumbent Susana Díaz with 55% of the vote.

[5] He resigned as mayor and city councillor at the start of 2022 to concentrate on his new role, whereby he would be their lead candidate in the regional election.