Fmr. San Francisco Mayor and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown Endorses Melissa Hernandez for Congress

Fmr. San Francisco Mayor and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown Endorses Melissa Hernandez for Congress

Fellow Mayor and California’s Longest-Serving Assembly Speaker Backs Hernandez Four Days Ahead of the August 18 Special Election

DUBLIN, CA— Today, fmr. Dublin Mayor, mom, BART Board president, and Congressional candidate Melissa Hernandez announced the endorsement of Willie Brown, fmr. Mayor of San Francisco and the longest-serving Speaker of the California State Assembly. Brown represented San Francisco in the State Assembly for three decades and led that body as Speaker for fifteen years before serving two terms as Mayor of San Francisco. 

“I have seen every kind of politician California produces, and the rarest kind is the one who actually delivers. Melissa Hernandez is the real thing. She built housing, created jobs, supported public safety, and led the community she has called home for more than three decades. The East Bay deserves a member of Congress who gets things done, and that is why I am proud to endorse Melissa Hernandez,” said Willie Brown.

Brown’s endorsement comes as Hernandez enters the final days of the special election with the broadest coalition in the race, including her former opponent Rakhi Israni, every Mayor representing CA-14, all County Supervisors representing CA-14, the district’s fire and public safety unions, Teamsters Joint Council 7, Chair of the CA Congressional Delegation Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Sam Liccardo, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, Elect Democratic Women, and the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund.

Hernandez is the daughter of migrant farm workers who raised her children as a single mother, put herself through Cal State East Bay, and has lived in the district for more than 30 years. As Mayor of Dublin she built housing families can afford and created thousands of jobs, and she now serves as President of the BART Board of Directors.

Ballots are in voters’ hands across CA-14 now, and must be returned by August 18 to be counted.

To learn more about Melissa Hernandez and her campaign, visit melissahernandez2026.com.

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California’s 14th Congressional District lies entirely within Alameda County in California’s East Bay, encompassing the cities of Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Union City in full, along with portions of Castro Valley, Dublin, Fremont, and San Leandro. The district has roughly 429,000 registered voters; 50% Democrats, 27% with no party preference, and 18% Republicans. CA-14 residents are approximately 40% Asian, 24% Latino, 23% non-Hispanic White, and 5% Black, with the remainder multiracial, Pacific Islander, or Native American. There are two upcoming general elections, a special general election on August 18, 2026, to complete the term vacated by former Rep. Eric Swalwell (running through January 2027), and the regular general election on November 3, 2026, for the full term beginning January 2027.