California Rep. Julia Brownley Announces She Will Not Seek Re-Election
California Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley announced Thursday that she will not seek an eighth term in Congress after representing the state’s 26th Congressional District for seven terms.
Brownley’s retirement is the latest in a growing wave of House members stepping aside ahead of this fall’s midterm elections. More than three dozen members of the House have already announced they will not run again. She is the second California House Democrat to declare her intention not to seek re-election this cycle.
The 26th District includes most of Ventura County and a small portion of Los Angeles County. Brownley, first elected in 2012, has focused on issues including health care access, veterans’ services, environmental protection, and support for working families.
In a statement, Brownley reflected warmly on her time in office. “Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime,” she said. “Every step of this journey has been shaped by the people I represent, by their resilience, their determination, and their belief that government can and should work for the common good.”
She highlighted key accomplishments during her tenure, noting efforts to expand affordable health care, strengthen support for veterans and military families, protect natural resources, confront the climate crisis, and advocate for working families. Brownley also emphasized constituent services, saying her office had helped thousands navigate federal programs and returned millions in earned benefits.
“With another year remaining in my term, I will continue working every day to deliver results for our region, advance legislation that improves the lives and livelihoods of people in my district and across our country, and stand up for the values and priorities my constituents sent me here to defend,” she said.
Despite acknowledging current challenges, Brownley expressed optimism about the nation’s future. “The American experiment has endured not because it is perfect, but because generations of Americans continue to believe in it and work to make it more just, more equal, and more reflective of those it serves,” she wrote. She added that she was “particularly pleased” to leave the House with Hakeem Jeffries positioned as a potential Speaker, stating confidence in his leadership.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement praising Brownley’s service. “Congresswoman Julia Brownley is a principled public servant and an incredible advocate for the communities that she so ably represents in Ventura and Los Angeles counties,” Jeffries said. He highlighted her work on veterans’ issues, including passage of the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act and the Deborah Sampson Act.
“Rep. Brownley will be missed by the House Democratic Caucus and we wish her and her family the very best in this new chapter,” Jeffries concluded.
California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin has already signaled strong interest in the seat. After Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State speech, Irwin told reporters, “I am the most obvious person to run for that seat,” while confirming she is exploring a bid.
Brownley did not provide a specific reason for her decision but said she remains committed to her duties through the end of her current term.
