Decades of political history, legislative battles and bipartisan relationships came to life in Sacramento on Oct. 9 as some of California’s most influential former lawmakers gathered for the Golden State Legislative Reunion.
In addition to former and current legislators, the event, held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in the state capital, also brought together former governors, constitutional officers and other political figures.
Hosted by former Republican legislative leader Jim Brulte and former Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, the reunion honored lawmakers elected to the California Senate and Assembly between 1964 and 1995.
Brown, who served in the Assembly from 1964 to 1995 and held the speakership for nearly 15 years, described the reunion as a “unique occasion” to recognize particular contributions of lawmakers from both parties.
“We want to think seriously about the achievement of this body, members of the Assembly, some who went on to join the Senate, and some who went off to other places,” Brown said. “We do want to thank the sponsors for making it possible for all of us to enjoy and renew relationships.”
A towering figure in California politics, Brown rose to become the Democratic whip in 1969 and later chaired influential committees, including Ways and Means and Revenue and Taxation. He became the first Black Californian to serve as Assembly speaker in December 1980 and remains the longest-serving speaker in California history.
Known for his political savvy and sharp wit, Brown drew laughter as he reflected on his record-setting tenure and the term limits that ultimately reshaped the Legislature.
Shown left to right is the Brultes’ daughter, Ivy Vital Brulte, Jim Brulte, Willie Brown, and Jim’s wife, Dr. Kirsten Vital Brulte. Credit: CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey
“For the ones who became speaker after me, I’d still be the speaker if it wasn’t changed to term limits,” Brown said.
Among those joining Brown were former Assembly speakers Antonio Villaraigosa and Bob Hertzberg, along with former members of the Capitol press corps and lobbyists who had spent years covering, negotiating and navigating legislative business.
Brulte, who represented portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties during his 14 years in the Legislature from 1990 to 2004, brought his own political history to the celebration. He served as a Republican leader in both the Assembly and Senate, becoming the first freshman legislator to lead a party caucus in the Assembly.
In a lighthearted nod to legislative tradition, Brulte took the podium and struck the gavel to call the dinner to order, a moment he joked had been more than three decades in the making.
“‘The house will be in order,’” Brulte said before addressing Brown. “Willie, it only took me 31 years to do that.”
Organizers described the reunion as the largest gathering of former California lawmakers in nearly 50 years, drawing nearly 80 former legislators and approximately 500 guests. Beyond the nostalgia, the event celebrated a period when political adversaries often maintained personal relationships despite sharp disagreements over legislation and public policy.
Among the prominent attendees was U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA-43), who represented California’s 48th Assembly District from 1977 to 1991 before beginning her congressional career.
Waters said the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues was particularly meaningful, but her longstanding friendship with Brown made attending the reunion an easy decision.
“All you have to say is ‘Willie Brown,’ and I’m here. He’s like my brother,” Waters told California Black Media (CBM). “I admire him so much. He’s so brilliant. Of course, we worked together in order to get him his first speakership.”
The reunion drew a cross-section of California’s political establishment, including former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, whose careers spanned some of the state’s most consequential political and policy debates.
Also attending was Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. secretary of health and human services, California attorney general and congressman who began his legislative career in the Assembly in 1990. Becerra is now a candidate for California governor.
Other notable guests included former Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, who also served in both houses of the Legislature; former Republican Assemblymember Jim Cunneen; U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, a former state legislator; and former Democratic lawmakers Jackie Speier and Grace Napolitano, both of whom later served in Congress.
Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, now mayor of Oakland, also attended, adding to the gathering’s roster of political figures whose careers extended from the state Capitol to local and national leadership.
Brown, Lee and Waters share another distinction: All three served as members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), which has played a significant role in advancing legislation and public policy addressing civil rights, economic opportunity and the interests of Black Californians.
After leaving the Legislature, Brown served as San Francisco mayor from 1996 to 2004. Lee went on to represent the East Bay in Congress for more than two decades before becoming Oakland’s mayor in 2025.
For many attendees, the reunion was more than a chance to revisit political accomplishments. It was an opportunity to renew friendships, remember hard-fought legislative battles and reflect on the personal experiences that defined their years in Sacramento.
Waters said seeing former colleagues brought back memories of both the challenges and triumphs they experienced together.
“I am so excited and thrilled to see some of my old colleagues and what they are doing,” Waters said of the event. “I’m remembering the days, all of the good times, bad times, and how we survived.”
