Julia Brownley

In 2006, Brownley ran for the California State Assembly in California's 41st Assembly district.[3] She won a five-way Democratic primary with 35% of the vote.[5] Brownley won the general election with 62% of the vote.[5][6] In 2008, she won re-election to a second term with 66% of the vote.[7] In 2010, she won re-election to a third term with 59% of the vote.[8] Brownley was term-limited in 2012, having served the maximum of three terms in the Assembly permitted under California law.[9]

She was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters.[10]

In 2010, Brownley authored a bill that would have banned all plastic shopping bags. The bill did not pass.[11][12]

Brownley served on the following California State Assembly committees:[13]

• Aging and Long-Term Care Committee
• Education Committee (Chair)
• Higher Education Committee
• Judiciary Committee
• Legislative Budget Committee
• Natural Resources Joint Legislative Budget Committee
• Select Committee on Community Colleges

In February 2012, Brownley announced her candidacy for California's 26th congressional district.[14] The district had previously been the 24th district, represented by 13-term Republican Elton Gallegly. In the general election, Brownley defeated Republican Tony Strickland by a margin of 53%-47%.[15]

She was endorsed by Emily's List[16] and Planned Parenthood.[17]

Brownley ran for re-election in 2014, facing Republican Jeff Gorell in the general election.[18] Brownley is a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program, which is designed to help protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents. After Republican candidates garnered over 50% of the vote in the June 2014 blanket primary, the Cook Political Report changed the rating of the race from "Leans Democratic" to "Toss-up."[19][20] The election did become a close race, making for closer scrutiny of the results. Initial results show Brownley winning 51% to 49%, with about 4,000 votes separating the candidates.[21]

Brownley supports the DREAM Act, the Affordable Care Act, and same-sex marriage. She has advocated in favor of increased insurance company regulation, job training funds, toxic clean-up, and increased public education funding.[22] Since her election to Congress, Brownley has voted with the Democratic Party 93% of the time.[23] Brownley voted on Nov. 19, 2015, for HR 4038, legislation that would effectively halt the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States.[24]

• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Health (Ranking Member)
• Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

• New Democrat Coalition[25]
• House Baltic Caucus[26]
• Congressional Arts Caucus[27]
• Blue Collar Caucus