Jerry Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Brown
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Official portrait, 2006
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| 34th & 39th Governor of California | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Gavin Newsom |
| Preceded by | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Succeeded by | Gavin Newsom |
| In office January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Preceded by | Ronald Reagan |
| Succeeded by | George Deukmejian |
| 31st Attorney General of California | |
| In office January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Governor | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Preceded by | Bill Lockyer |
| Succeeded by | Kamala Harris |
| 47th Mayor of Oakland | |
| In office January 4, 1999 – January 8, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Elihu Harris |
| Succeeded by | Ron Dellums |
| 23rd Secretary of State of California | |
| In office January 4, 1971 – January 6, 1975 |
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| Governor | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Frank M. Jordan |
| Succeeded by | March Fong Eu |
| Chairman of the California Democratic Party | |
| In office February 11, 1989 – March 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Peter D. Kelly III |
| Succeeded by | Phil Angelides |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr.
April 7, 1938 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Anne Gust
(m. 2005) |
| Parents | Pat Brown Bernice Layne Brown |
| Relatives | Kathleen Brown (sister) |
| Residences | Colusa County, California, U.S. |
| Education | Santa Clara University University of California, Berkeley (BA) Yale University (LLB) |
| Signature | _Brown.png) |
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. (born April 7, 1938), known as Jerry Brown, is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the governor of California for two separate periods: from 1975 to 1983 and again from 2011 to 2019. This made him both one of the youngest and the oldest governors of California.
Brown is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming governor, he was the secretary of state of California starting in 1970. Later, he served as the mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and the attorney general of California from 2007 to 2011. When he finished his fourth term as governor, he became the fourth longest-serving governor in U.S. history, having served for over 16 years.
Jerry Brown was born in San Francisco, California. His father, Pat Brown, was also a governor of California (from 1959 to 1967). After studying at the University of California, Berkeley and Yale Law School, Jerry Brown began his political career. He was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees in 1969.
In 1974, at age 36, Brown was elected governor for the first time. This made him the youngest California governor in over a century. He won a second term in 1978. During his time as governor, he tried to become the Democratic candidate for president in 1976 and 1980, but he was not successful. In 1982, he chose not to run for governor again and instead ran for the United States Senate, but he lost that election.
After traveling and studying, Brown returned to California. He served as the Chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1989 to 1991. He tried to run for president again in 1992 but lost to Bill Clinton. He then moved to Oakland and hosted a radio show. Soon, he returned to public service as the mayor of Oakland and then as the attorney general of California. He was elected governor for his third and fourth terms in 2010 and 2014. In 2013, he became the longest-serving governor in California's history.
Early Life and Education
Jerry Brown was born in San Francisco, California. He was the only son among four children of Pat Brown, who later became the governor of California, and his wife, Bernice Layne Brown.
Brown went to St. Ignatius High School, graduating in 1955. He then attended Santa Clara University for a year. For a time, he thought about becoming a Catholic priest and studied at a Jesuit house. However, he later enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in Classics in 1961. He then went to Yale Law School and graduated with a law degree in 1964. After law school, he worked for a judge on the Supreme Court of California.
After passing the state bar exam, Brown moved to Los Angeles and worked at a law firm. In 1969, he ran for the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, which manages community colleges in the city. He won and served on the board until 1971.
California Secretary of State (1971–1975)
In 1970, Jerry Brown was elected Secretary of State of California. This job involves overseeing elections and keeping official state records. Brown took legal action against large companies for breaking election laws. He also made sure that lawmakers followed rules about sharing information on their campaigns.
Brown helped create and pass the California Political Reform Act of 1974. This law was approved by many California voters. It set up the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which helps ensure fairness in politics.
First Time as Governor (1975–1983)
Becoming Governor
In 1974, Brown ran for Governor of California. He won the Democratic primary election, partly because his father, Pat Brown, was a well-known and respected former governor. In the main election, Brown was elected governor, taking over from Republican Governor Ronald Reagan.
After becoming governor, Brown became known for being careful with state money. He refused many of the special benefits that came with the job. Instead of living in the new governor's mansion, he rented a small apartment. He also walked to work and drove a simple Plymouth Satellite car instead of a fancy limousine. When someone suggested fixing a hole in his office rug, Brown joked that the hole would save the state money because it would remind lawmakers to be careful with spending.
Key Actions as Governor
Brown was very interested in environmental issues. He created new offices and appointed people to focus on technology and the environment. He also supported the California Arts Council, increasing its funding and bringing artists onto the council. He appointed more women and minority groups to government positions than any governor before him. In 1977, he supported the first tax break for installing solar panels on rooftops.
Brown was against the death penalty and tried to stop it as governor. However, the state legislature disagreed with him and passed the law anyway in 1977.
In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, a law that greatly reduced property taxes. Brown responded by cutting state spending and using a large state budget surplus to help cities and schools deal with the loss of tax money. His actions were praised by some, including the author of Proposition 13.
Presidential Campaigns (1976 and 1980)
Brown first ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1976. He started his campaign late but won in several states, including California. He said that the country was entering an "era of limits," meaning that resources were not endless. Despite his success, he was not chosen as the candidate.
In 1980, Brown challenged President Jimmy Carter for the Democratic nomination again. His platform was bigger this time, focusing on protecting the Earth, serving people, and exploring the universe. He supported a balanced budget and wanted to increase funding for the space program. He also opposed nuclear power after the Three Mile Island accident. Brown's campaign did not gain enough support, and he eventually dropped out of the race.
Second Term and Challenges
Brown won re-election as governor in 1978. During this term, he faced a serious problem with the medfly insect in the San Francisco Bay Area. This insect was destroying many crops. Brown first tried ground-level spraying to protect the environment. But when the problem got worse, he approved a large-scale effort, including helicopters spraying malathion and the California National Guard collecting infected fruit. The infestation was stopped, but the delay and the large response caused some debate.
Brown also suggested creating a state space academy and launching a satellite for emergency communications. He was sometimes called "Moonbeam" by a columnist, a nickname that came from a humorous comment by his girlfriend at the time, singer Linda Ronstadt. The columnist later said he regretted publicizing the nickname.
In 1982, Brown decided not to run for governor again. Instead, he ran for the United States Senate but lost to Pete Wilson. After this defeat, many people thought his political career was over.
Life After Governorship
After his Senate defeat in 1982, Brown traveled to Japan to study Buddhism. He also visited Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India, and helped care for the sick in her hospices. He explained that politics is about power, but his travels taught him to serve those in need.
When he returned in 1988, Brown became the Chairman of the California Democratic Party. He worked to get more people to donate to the party and encouraged more people to vote. In 1991, he resigned to run for president for a third time.
1992 Presidential Campaign
In 1992, Brown ran for president against President George H. W. Bush. Many people thought he had little chance. Brown ran a "grassroots" campaign, meaning he focused on getting support directly from ordinary people. He said he would only accept small donations of $100 or less from individuals. He wanted to "take back America" from corruption in Washington.
Brown's platform included strict rules for campaign money, support for living wage laws, and opposition to free trade agreements. He also proposed a new tax plan that would replace the current income tax with a flat tax. This plan was praised by some newspapers.
Because he had a small budget, Brown used cable television and talk radio interviews to share his message for free. He also used a special phone number for donations. He won surprising victories in several states, including Connecticut and Colorado. However, he eventually lost the Democratic primary to Bill Clinton. Even though he didn't win the nomination, he received many delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention.
Mayor of Oakland (1999–2007)
After his 1992 presidential campaign, Brown moved to Oakland, California. He built a complex that served as his home and workspace, including a radio studio. From there, he hosted a national talk radio show until 1997.
In 1998, Brown ran for Mayor of Oakland. He ran as an independent, saying he had left the Democratic Party because he felt the two-party system was "deeply corrupted." He won with 59% of the vote.
Before taking office, Brown worked to change Oakland's government structure. He wanted the mayor to have more power, acting as the chief executive over city departments. Voters approved this change, making the mayor's role much stronger.
As mayor, Brown focused on bringing new life to Oakland. The city was losing residents and businesses. Brown used his connections to attract over $1 billion in investments. He helped refurbish the Fox Theatre, the Port of Oakland, and Jack London Square. He aimed to bring 10,000 new residents to Downtown Oakland, a plan known as the "10k Plan." This plan led to new development projects and more affordable housing.
Brown also tried to improve Oakland's schools. While he didn't gain full control over the public school system, he helped create two charter schools: the Oakland School for the Arts and the Oakland Military Institute. He also sponsored efforts to reduce crime, and while crime decreased overall, there was a spike in homicides in his final year. Brown was reelected as mayor in 2002.
Attorney General of California (2007–2011)
In 2004, Brown decided to run for Attorney General of California. He won the Democratic primary and then defeated his Republican opponent in the general election in 2006. The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer.
As attorney general, Brown represented the state in legal cases. He stated that he would follow the law, even if his personal beliefs were different. For example, he had to handle cases related to the death penalty, even though he personally opposed it.
Brown also dealt with Proposition 8, a law passed by voters that banned same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court upheld the law. However, a federal court later ruled that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution. Brown and then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chose not to appeal this ruling.
Second Time as Governor (2011–2019)
Third Term (2011–2015)
Brown announced he would run for governor again in 2010. His Republican opponent was Meg Whitman, a former CEO of eBay. The election involved a lot of money spent on campaigns. Brown was endorsed by major newspapers and unions. Despite being outspent, Brown won the election.
He was sworn in for his third term as governor on January 3, 2011. Brown worked on a budget that would move many government programs from the state level to local communities. In 2012, he signed a budget that included cuts to social services. This budget assumed that voters would approve tax increases to help fix California's budget problems.
In November 2012, voters approved Brown's tax increases through Proposition 30. This law raised income taxes for higher earners and increased the state sales tax. It helped prevent nearly $6 billion in cuts to public education.
In 2013, Brown proposed a large plan to build two long tunnels to carry fresh water from the Sacramento River to southern California. This project, called the California Water Fix and Eco Restore, was designed to improve the state's water system. In 2014, Brown signed a historic law to manage groundwater in the state, aiming for water sustainability within 20 years.
Fourth Term (2015–2019)
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Brown ran for re-election in 2014, seeking an unprecedented fourth term as governor. He won the primary election and then defeated his Republican opponent, Neel Kashkari, in the general election.
During his fourth term, Brown continued to transfer power to local authorities, especially in education and criminal justice. His main goals included building the California High-Speed Rail, creating the water tunnels to improve the state's water system, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2016, Brown vetoed a bill that would have removed sales taxes on feminine hygiene products and diapers. He explained that these tax breaks would reduce state revenues too much.
Some of his major achievements in his final term included passing California Sanctuary Law SB 54, which limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents. He also signed California Senate Bill 32, which set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030, and the Road Repair and Accountability Act to fund road improvements.
By September 2018, Brown had granted over 1,100 pardons and commuted more than 82 sentences, which was more than any California governor in recent history.
Personal Life
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For many years, Jerry Brown was a bachelor. He was known for dating famous women, including singer Linda Ronstadt. In 2005, Brown announced his engagement to Anne Gust, whom he had been dating since 1990. They were married in June 2005. They live on a ranch in Colusa County.
From 1995 to 1997, Brown hosted a daily call-in talk show on a radio station in Berkeley. His show, called We the People, often discussed different ideas on social and political issues.
In 2011, Jerry and Anne Gust Brown got a Pembroke Welsh corgi dog named Sutter Brown, who became known as the "first dog" of California. Sutter often appeared with the governor at events. In 2015, they got another dog, Colusa "Lucy" Brown. Sutter passed away in 2016 from cancer.
After leaving public office in 2019, Brown has focused on climate cooperation between the United States and China. He also became a visiting professor at Berkeley. In 2023, a new type of beetle was named B. brownorum after Brown and his wife, as it was found on their ranch.
Electoral History
Images for kids
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Brown at the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City.
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Cesar Chavez nominating Brown at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
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Brown in 1978.
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See also
In Spanish: Jerry Brown para niños
