California Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley announced that she will not seek re-election after seven terms representing a district in the Ventura County area.
Brownley’s statement is part of a surge of retirement announcements before this fall’s midterm elections.
Thus far, more than three dozen members of the House have already announced that they won’t run again.
Brownley is the second California House Democrat to announce her intention not to seek re-election this year.
Brownley represents the 26th Congressional District, which includes most of Ventura County and a sliver of Los Angeles County. Proposition 50’s Democratic-friendly gerrymander was a triumph, making it bluer.
“Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime,” Brownley said in a statement.
“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,” Brownley added.
“Together, we have expanded access to affordable health care, strengthened support for veterans and their families, protected our natural resources, confronted the climate crisis, and fought for working families,” she continued.
Brownley has a long history of being far-left:
“We have helped thousands of constituents navigate the federal government, returned millions in earned benefits, and never lost sight of the simple truth that public service is about showing up for people when they need help the most,” the Democrat added.
“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,” Brownley declared.
“Despite the immense challenges we are currently facing, I remain deeply optimistic about the future of our country,” she said.
“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 said.
“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in that work, and I know we will learn from this moment in time how to shore up our democracy to make it even stronger for the generations that will follow,” Brownley wrote.
Brownley added, “I am particularly pleased that I will leave the House with Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. I am confident that he will lead Congress with integrity, with purpose, with resolve, and with a clear vision for the future. While I will not be in Congress, I will remain in the fight, fighting for a better and brighter future.”
Brownley did not give a reason for her decision, but the Democrat said in a statement she was “confident” that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries would be an excellent speaker of the House if Democrats win back the chamber.
California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin told reporters, “I am the most obvious person to run for that seat” as she walked off the Assembly floor after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State speech, saying she was exploring a bid for Brownley’s now-open seat.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a statement after Brownley announced she would not seek another term.
“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.
“Brownley’s career has been defined by a commitment to making life better for others,” Jeffries added.
“She has been an incredible advocate for our veterans, service members and military families, particularly our women veterans. She led passage of the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act and the Deborah Sampson Act, critical pieces of legislation supporting the women who have bravely served our nation in uniform,” Jeffries continued.
“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.