Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Nathan Barankin

No. 1 Nathan Barankin

How could it be anyone else in this position? Being Chief of Staff to the governor is probably the hardest job in California politics, and maybe doubly so for this governor, who is not exactly known for being a ray of sunshine. There’s a reason he goes through chiefs on the regular. In a previous incarnation, Gavin Newsom probably drove a 20-mule team across Death Valley for a living, cracking a whip the whole way. But if anyone is built to deal with tough, driven and very ambitious personalities, it is Nathan Barankin. Like his predecessor, Dana Williamson, he has been playing in sandboxes at the top level of state government for a long time. While he and Williamson are polar opposites in terms of personality, don’t let Barankin’s calmer and less confrontational demeanor lead you to think he is any kind of pushover. He previously served in many capacities for Kamala Harris, including as her Chief of Staff during her time as California’s Attorney General and later when she was in the U.S. Senate. He was Senior Advisor for her 2020 presidential campaign, and has also served in senior advisory roles for Newsom as well as folks like former Senate pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and then-Attorney General Jerry Brown. In short, the man has been through more than his share of high-profile politics here and on the national front. That last part is critical right now given that his boss is maybe/probably/assuredly going to run for president, which means every little thing Newsom does or says takes on more meaning than ever before. Even if Newsom doesn’t run – or hasn’t decided by the time he terms out in 2026 – the next year and a half is going to be a little slice of Hell. The Trump administration has basically declared war on California, and each coming day in Newsomworld will probably feel like it. That requires a Chief of Staff Newsom implicitly trusts and who has the chops and the charm to keep things in-house calm amidst the chaos. That’s Nathan Barankin.