Rep. Julia Brownley's Decision to Step Down

Julia Brownley, serving as a Democratic representative for over ten years in parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, announced Thursday her decision to step down from her congressional seat.

Brownley expressed that serving her district and the nation has been a profound honor. Her work reflected the tenacity and hopes of her constituents, especially in areas like healthcare access, veterans' welfare, combating climate challenges, and other critical priorities. She emphasized the core of public service: being there for people in their time of need.

At 73, Brownley did not disclose the reason for her decision, joining over 40 other House members not seeking reelection this November, including fellow Californians like Nancy Pelosi and Eric Swalwell.

Before her congressional role, Brownley was active on the Malibu-Santa Monica school board and served in the state legislature. She entered Congress in 2012 representing a district that was evenly split politically, but it has since leaned more Democratic.

In the 2024 elections, Brownley maintained her seat in a district that encompassed areas like Agoura Hills and Oxnard, receiving 56.6% of the vote against Republican Michael Koslow. At that time, Democratic voters formed the largest group in the district, followed by Republicans and independents.

The district's political landscape shifted significantly after California's voters approved changes to the congressional maps through Proposition 50, a reaction to counteract former President Trump’s initiatives to secure more Republican seats.

Several Republicans, including Koslow, had planned to run against Brownley. Following her announcement, Democrat Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin officially filed to contend for the soon-to-be-vacated seat.