Julia Brownley | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's26th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | David Dreier |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the41st district | |
| In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Fran Pavley |
| Succeeded by | Chris Holden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Julia Andrews Brownley (1952-08-28)August 28, 1952 (age 73) Aiken, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | George Washington University (BA) American University (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Julia Andrews Brownley (born August 28, 1952) is an American businesswoman and politician who has been theUnited States representative forCalifornia's 26th congressional district since 2013. ADemocrat, she served in theCalifornia State Assembly from 2006 to 2012.[1] Before her political career, she worked in marketing and sales.[2]
Brownley grew up in Virginia, and attendedFairfax Hall, a girls'boarding school inWaynesboro, for four years. Brownley received a bachelor's degree in political science fromMount Vernon College for Women ofGeorge Washington University in 1975 and a master's degree in business administration fromAmerican University in 1979.[2][3]
Brownley served on theSanta Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education from 1994 to 2006. During her time on the school board, she served three terms as president.[4]
In 2006, Brownley ran for theCalifornia State Assembly inCalifornia's 41st Assembly district which included Santa Monica.[5][3] She won a five-way Democratic primary with 35% of the vote[6] and the general election with 62% of the vote.[6][7] In 2008, she was reelected with 66% of the vote.[8] In 2010, she was reelected to a third term with 59% of the vote.[9] Brownley was term-limited in 2012, having served the maximum of three terms in the Assembly permitted under California law.[10]
She was endorsed by theLeague of Conservation Voters.[11]
In 2010, Brownley authored a bill that would have banned all plastic shopping bags. It did not pass.[12][13]
Brownley served on the following California State Assembly committees:[14]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2020) |
In February 2012, Brownley announced her candidacy forCalifornia's 26th congressional district.[15] The district had previously been the24th district, represented by 13-termRepublicanElton Gallegly. In the general election, Brownley defeated Republicanstate SenatorTony Strickland, 53%-47%.[16] She was endorsed byEmily's List[17] andPlanned Parenthood.[18]
Brownley was narrowly reelected over Republicanstate AssemblymanJeff Gorell in the general election.[19] She is a member of theDemocratic 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 blanket primary, theCook Political Report changed the rating of the race from "Leans Democratic" to "Toss-up".[20][21] The race did become close, making for closer scrutiny of the results. Initial results showed Brownley winning 51% to 49%, with about 4,000 votes separating the candidates.[22]
Brownley supports theDREAM Act, theAffordable Care Act, and same-sex marriage. She has advocated increased insurance company regulation, job training funds, toxic cleanup, and increased public education funding.[23] Since her election to Congress, Brownley has voted with the Democratic Party 93% of the time.[24][failed verification] On November 19, 2015, she voted for HR 4038, legislation that would effectively halt the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States.[25]
For the118th Congress:[26]
Brownley strongly opposed the2022 overturning ofRoe v. Wade, calling the decision "unprecedented, deeply disappointing, and ideologically driven".[36]
Brownley supports federal funding foralternative proteins, includingplant-based andcultivated meat. In 2021, Brownley and RepresentativeJim McGovern led a letter by 46 members of Congress requesting $200 million for alternative proteins research in an upcomingbudget reconciliation package.[37] In 2023, Brownley authored the Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition (PROTEIN) Act, which would have established alternative protein job training programs and research centers at universities and theDepartment of Agriculture.[38][39]
In March 2024, Brownley joined a letter to President Biden encouraging the administration to follow through with a proposal to increase plant-based food offerings acrossfederal facilities.[40] In August 2024, she led a letter alongside RepresentativeAdam Schiff urging theFederal Bureau of Prisons to increase plant-based meal options for federal prisoners.[41]
Brownley voted to provideIsrael with support following theOctober 7 attacks.[42][43]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 84,997 | 51.4 | |
| Republican | Michael Koslow | 55,908 | 33.8 | |
| Republican | Bruce Boyer | 17,707 | 10.7 | |
| Democratic | Chris Anstead | 6,841 | 4.1 | |
| Total votes | 165,453 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 187,393 | 56.1 | |
| Republican | Michael Koslow | 146,913 | 43.9 | |
| Total votes | 334,306 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 134,575 | 54.5% | |
| Republican | Matt Jacobs | 112,214 | 45.5% | |
| Total votes | 246,789 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 208,856 | 60.6% | |
| Republican | Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy | 135,877 | 39.4% | |
| Total votes | 344,733 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 110,804 | 61.9% | |
| Republican | Antonio Sabàto Jr. | 73,416 | 38.1% | |
| Total votes | 184,220 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 169,248 | 60.4% | |
| Republican | Rafael A. Dagnesses | 111,059 | 39.6% | |
| Total votes | 280,307 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 38,854 | 45.5% | |
| Republican | Jeff Gorell | 38,021 | 44.5% | |
| Republican | Rafael Alberto Dagnesses | 6,536 | 7.7% | |
| No party preference | Douglas Kmiec | 1,980 | 2.3% | |
| Total votes | 85,391 | 100% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Julia Brownley (incumbent) | 87,176 | 51.3% | |
| Republican | Jeff Gorell | 82,653 | 48.7% | |
| Total votes | 169,829 | 100% | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Tony Strickland | 49,043 | 44.1% | |
| Democratic | Julia Brownley | 29,892 | 26.9% | |
| No party preference | Linda Parks | 20,301 | 18.3% | |
| Democratic | Jess Herrera | 7,244 | 6.5% | |
| Democratic | David Cruz Thayne | 2,809 | 2.5% | |
| Democratic | Alex Maxwell Goldberg | 1,880 | 1.7% | |
| Total votes | 111,169 | 100% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Julia Brownley | 139,072 | 52.7% | |
| Republican | Tony Strickland | 124,863 | 47.3% | |
| Total votes | 263,935 | 100% | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
Brownley is divorced and has two children.[2] She is anEpiscopalian.[49]
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| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 26th congressional district 2013–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 102nd | Succeeded by |
| People | |
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| Other | |
