Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Brandon Castillo

No. 19 Brandon Castillo

When it comes to ballot measure campaigns Brandon Castillo is the Capitol community’s version of Ghostbusters because he is definitely who you gonna call. For decades now Castillo has been one of the folks that big-bucks interests bring on to get their high-stakes measures across the finish line. And they don’t do it because he looks snazzy in a suit and tie. They call Castillo for one primary reason – he wins. A lot. Like almost always. In recent years he has been instrumental in measures that made app-based rideshare drivers independent contractors and ensured a tax on managed healthcare insurance providers became permanent, two of the highest profile campaigns in recent memory. This year he has been at the helm of measures to implement even more CEQA reforms and a mandate for federally qualified health centers to spend 90 percent of their revenue on direct patient care onto the ballot, and in getting a few others (healthcare executive compensation and a tax transparency measure) off the ballot. Nobody ever wins them all, but Castillo comes close enough.

Updated Aug. 11 2026