Gov. Gavin Newsom said that flags at the Capitol would fly at half-staff to honor John Burton, a former California Democratic Congressman, state assemblyman and state senate president, who died Sunday at the age of 92.
Burton was also selected by Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel to be posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame in December.
An outpouring of respect, praise and grief came from Democratic officials in the state including Newsom, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.
Burton was an influential figure in Democratic and California politics who called San Francisco home since his youth and lived in the city until his passing, only interrupted by his tenure in Congress from 1973-1983.
He was known for his blunt style and advocacy for progressive policies in labor, housing and other areas and was considered a mentor by Pelosi, who had Burton manage her first Congressional campaign to capture the seat he had previously held, Pelosi said in a statement.
“Guided by a big heart, and aided by a brilliant strategic mind, John was boundlessly effective in every arena in which he served — whether protesting the war in Vietnam, bringing the concerns of Californians to Congress, serving in the state Assembly and Senate or twice leading our state Democratic Party. He cultivated his friendships in politics, music, community and sports — nurturing deep, decades-long relationships and always engaging new people,” Pelosi said in a statement.
Newsom said the Democratic leader had dedicated his life to public service.
“There was no greater champion for the poor, the bullied, the disabled, and forgotten Californians than John Burton. He was a towering figure — a legendary force whose decades of service shaped our state and our politics for the better,” he said in a statement.
“John devoted his life to public service with a candor, passion, and determination that were simply unmatched. He breathed life into our democracy, built institutions that endure to this day, and never wavered in his fight for working people,” Newsom said.
There was no greater champion for the poor, the bullied, the disabled, and forgotten Californians than John Burton. He was a towering figure — a legendary force whose decades of service shaped our state and our politics for the better.
Gov. gavin newsom
Burton, who was the chair of the California Democratic Party in the 1970s and in the 2010s, was remembered by current California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks.
“Today I join California Democrats with heavy hearts in mourning the passing of John Burton, truly one-of-a-kind and the fiercest defender of the most vulnerable among us. John’s legacy is one of relentless courage, unyielding compassion, and an unshakable belief that government is at its best whenever it serves the people who need it most. He never backed down from a fight when it came to protecting working families, standing up for children, or giving voice to those too often left behind,” Hicks said.
Padilla similarly remembered Burton fondly for his advocacy and frank style.
“John was bluntly honest and never shied away from a fight if it meant protecting the vulnerable and giving a voice to the voiceless — a mission he carried on even after his political career by providing a pathway to a better life for thousands of foster youth and securing billions of dollars to invest in their success,” Padilla said in a statement.