The Kamala Harris - Willie Brown connection

The old rogue wins again as his ex-mistress becomes the Democratic frontrunner for President.

Willie Brown in his natural habitat, 7/21/2024: holding a press conference to discuss one of his many proteges outside an expensive San Francisco steakhouse

California has produced many nationally famous politicians, such as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Nancy Pelosi, but within the state the most legendary political talent might be Willie Brown, now 90, who today saw his former mistress Kamala Harris become the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

Willie served as speaker of the California Assembly, the second most powerful job in state government, for more than 14 years, 1980-1995, twice Jesse Unruh’s previous record. Republican voters then passed a term limit law to force him out, so he smoothly slid into the office of mayor of San Francisco from 1996-2004 (an era often fondly remembered in San Francisco from the more dysfunctional perspective of 2024).

From the San Francisco Standard:

Holding court for media, Willie Brown calls on Biden to resign, Harris to pick Whitmer VP

By George Kelly

Published Jul. 21, 2024 • 1:50pm

… Brown, who dated Harris when she was an Alameda County prosecutor in the mid-1990s, said he learned of Biden’s decision “35, 40 minutes, maybe an hour ago,” along with the general public. He urged Democrats who had been pushing for Biden to step aside to now rally behind Harris.

“I hope all those Democrats who’ve been pushing Biden to quit will now show up and ring doorbells with me,” he said.

The former mayor, nattily dressed as ever in a pink Isaia blazer, grey slacks and hat and white tennis shoes, drew parallels to Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1968 decision not to seek reelection, noting that Johnson had also endorsed his vice president….

The Mayor for Life said he'd like to see an all-female presidential ticket with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer running as the vice presidential nominee.

Brown suggested that Biden should resign immediately to allow Harris to assume the presidency, arguing this would “silence all of this nonsense about how best to select some new nominee. … Her chances go up if he would at this moment say not only am I no longer the candidate, I’m no longer the president — she is.” …

“I think George Bush may say ‘I’m for Kamala Harris,'” Brown said. “He certainly didn’t show up at the Republican convention, and I know he likes to go to conventions.”

Regarding other potential candidates, Brown predicted that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would support Harris, saying, “Gavin will remain a loyal soldier.”

And from an opinion piece in the Orange County Register in 2018:

California is still living in Willie Brown’s world

By JOHN PHILLIPS | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: September 26, 2018 at 6:57 pm

In 1990, California voters approved Proposition 140 — which imposed term limits on members of the California assembly and senate. It was ostensibly to return to a citizen legislature closer the people, but in reality, voters outside his San Francisco district wanted Assembly Speaker Willie Brown out, and this was the only way to do it.

Twenty eight years later, California still has term limits, but Willie Brown’s political machine has never been more powerful. This is Willie Brown’s world — you just live here.

While it’s true that Brown is no longer in elected office and is currently 84 years of age, his proteges have their hands firmly on the levers of power, both nationally and in California.

Let’s look at four of his top apprentices: the ex-girlfriend, the right hand, the baby sitter and the sommelier.

The “ex-girlfriend” is California Senator Kamala Harris.

According to the San Francisco Weekly, Harris and Brown met in 1994 when he was speaker of the state Assembly. He was 60, she was 29.

Kamala Harris made good use of her opportunity, learning hard lessons in the ins-and-outs of politics while serving in a variety of positions under Willie Brown.

Prior to her running for office, Brown appointed Harris to two patronage positions in state government, the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission. These positions paid handsomely, more than $400,000 over five years.

At one point Brown and Harris were the talk of the town.

Right before Brown was sworn in as Mayor of San Francisco, legendary San Francisco columnist Herb Caen implied that the self described “Ayatollah of the Assembly” and “a girlfriend” would soon get married. In his book, “Basic Brown,” Brown quoted his wife Blanche as responding to the column by saying, “Listen, she may have him at the moment, but come inauguration day and he’s up there on the platform being sworn in, I’ll be the b***h holding the Bible.”

The couple broke up, but the friendship and political alliance remained.

In 2003, Harris decided to run for district attorney of the city and county of San Francisco. Brown assisted this campaign by raising money on her behalf and introducing her to deep-pocketed donors.

Brown also supported Harris when she successfully ran for attorney general of California and the U.S. Senate in 2016. …

Brown’s “right hand” is California Congresswoman Maxine Waters. …

And then, we have “the baby-sitter,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who used to babysit Brown’s kids.

I can never remember whether London Breed is a mayor, a raincoat, a terrier, or a beef entree.

Their connection persisted through the years and when Brown was elected mayor, Breed was given an internship in the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services.

In 2004, Breed was named to the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission, and in 2012 won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors — where she was sworn in by then-California Attorney General Harris. …

And finally, we have “sommelier,” California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In 1996, Brown appointed Newsom to the Parking and Traffic Commission, and then in 1997 elevated him to a vacant seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors — telling the San Francisco Chronicle that he valued Newsom’s “easy familiarity with San Francisco’s upper crust.”

In a 2017 interview above his San Francisco wine shop, Newsom conceded he wouldn’t be in politics without Brown and former California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton, telling the Sacramento Bee, “I hopefully would be with the Wine Spectator today; not you … I would never be in politics. But they took a risk on me. And I know Willie wouldn’t have done it unless John encouraged him.” …

Term limits or not, Willie Brown doesn’t have time to be in elected office any more — he’s too busy running the most successful political machine in the nation.

And, San Francisco has many fine chop houses.

Willie has been more or less blind for several decades, but that doesn’t seem to have dented his joie de vivre.