Julia Brownley

Julia Andrews Brownley (born August 28, 1952) is an American politician who has been the United States Representative for California's 26th congressional district since 2013. Previously she served in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. She is a Democrat. Before her political career, she worked in marketing and sales.

Brownley grew up in Virginia in a Republican family. Brownley received a bachelor's degree in political science from Mount Vernon College for Women in 1975 and a master's degree in business administration from American University in 1979.

Brownley served on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education from 1994-2006. During her time on the school board, she served three terms as president.

Brownley during her tenure in the California State Assembly

Elections

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

She was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters.

Tenure

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

Committee assignments

Brownley served on the following California State Assembly committees:

• 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

Elections

2012

In February 2012, Brownley announced her candidacy for California's 26th congressional district. 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%.

She was endorsed by Emily's List and Planned Parenthood.

2014

Brownley ran for re-election in 2014, facing Republican Jeff Gorell in the general election. 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." 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.

Political positions

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. Since her election to Congress, Brownley has voted with the Democratic Party 93% of the time. 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.

Committee assignments

• 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)

Brownley is divorced and has two children.