Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Christine Aurre

25. Christine Aurre

Christina Aurre is another of those folks inside the walls of Castle Gavin that serve any number of purposes, depending on the issue of the day.  Previously a staffer for lawmakers Patrick O’Donnell and then-Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg, Aurre’s drive, intelligence and policy expertise have made her another razor sharp blade in Newsom’s Swiss army knife approach to staffing, meaning a lot of really smart, really loyal people who can without complaint take on whatever task needs doing. Her predominant job of course is to be the governor’s advocate with legislative leaders, which these days is about as thankless as it gets, given that the governor and said leaders have what at best could be called a frosty relationship. It hasn’t helped the Legislature that the two chambers have created so much of their own turmoil over the last year that the balance of power has swung mightily to the executive branch. Maybe that will ease as Newsom gets closer to his true lame duck year… and maybe not. Either way, Aurre will be the one making his case to lawmakers on the regular. We wish her luck.

Updated August 26, 2025