Sacramento: Golden State Legislative Reunion Brings Together Lawmakers and Officials Who Served Between 1964 and 1995

October 20, 2026

California's most influential former lawmakers gathered in Sacramento on October 9 for the Golden State Legislative Reunion, honoring legislators who served between 1964 and 1995. The event, hosted by former Republican leader Jim Brulte and former Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, drew approximately 80 former legislators and 500 guests total, making it the largest such gathering in nearly 50 years. Attendees included former governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis, Congress members like Maxine Waters, and other constitutional officers who shaped California politics during a period marked by bipartisan personal relationships despite policy disagreements.

Who is affected

Former California legislators who served between 1964 and 1995
Willie Brown (former Democratic Assembly Speaker, 1964-1995)
Jim Brulte (former Republican legislative leader)
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters
Former governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis
Xavier Becerra (former U.S. HHS Secretary, California AG, and congressman)
Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (now Oakland mayor)
Former Assembly speakers Antonio Villaraigosa and Bob Hertzberg
U.S. Rep. Jim Costa
Former legislators Jackie Speier and Grace Napolitano
Former Secretary of State Bruce McPherson
Approximately 80 former legislators and 500 total guests
Former members of the Capitol press corps and lobbyists
Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC)

What action is being taken

No explicit next steps stated in the article
(Note: The reunion itself was a past event held on October 9, and the article describes what occurred at that event rather than ongoing actions.)

Why it matters

The reunion matters because it celebrated a distinctive era in California politics when legislators from opposing parties maintained personal relationships despite sharp policy disagreements, contrasting with today's more polarized political environment. It honored the contributions of legislators who shaped California during a transformative 31-year period and provided historical perspective on how bipartisan collaboration functioned before term limits reshaped the Legislature. The event also recognized the significant role of the California Legislative Black Caucus in advancing civil rights and economic opportunity legislation. By bringing together former governors, constitutional officers, and national political figures whose careers began in Sacramento, the reunion highlighted California's role as a training ground for political leadership at all levels of government.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint