Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Brian Brokaw

40. Brian Brokaw

We at Capitol Weekly have almost criminally underappreciated Brian Brokaw for years. But no more! This year, we’re giving Brokaw his due. A Democratic strategist and consultant, Brokaw is one of the most well-connected players in California politics, including being a confidant of Gov. Newsom. He also helped get Kamala Harris elected to both Attorney General and the U.S. Senate. Those deep ties to the two most powerful and important political figures in California today alone should have put him high up on this ranking a long time ago. But, to his credit, Brokaw has mastered working behind the scenes. So even though he serves on the board of Open California, the publisher of Capitol Weekly, we can be excused (at least a little) for not truly appreciating Brokaw’s exceptional influence, which can be felt regularly throughout the administration, even though he doesn’t hold any official title in state government.

Updated Aug. 7, 2024