Julia Brownley leaves the House of Representatives
On Jan. 8, Julia Brownley announced that she is not seeking re-election in 2026 after representing District 26 of California for over 12 years. Brownley has endorsed Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat from Thousand Oaks, to fill her role in Congress. A reason has not been shared as to why Brownley is stepping down. Others running to take her seat include Michael Koslow, who previously ran in 2024 and Jonathan Wagoner, a Camarillo business owner.
The 26th Congressional District of California covers parts of Ventura County and Los Angeles County including the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo and Moorpark. In Ventura County, Brownley advocated for federal funding in infrastructure improvements for centers of transportation. This impacted the transformation of the usage of Port Hueneme and the Ventura Harbor for trade and employment.
As a congresswoman, Brownley was a part of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, which focused on ensuring health care for veterans, and served on the House Committee on Natural Resources, which oversaw air quality and climate change. Prior to her position, Brownley was part of the California State Assembly along with advocating for students with special needs on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education’s school board.
During President Trump’s current administration, Brownley has made clear her position on protecting abortion rights and the Department of Education. On Dec. 11, 2025 during a resolution issued to impeach Trump, Brownley stated, “While House Republicans have made no effort to use their constitutional oversight responsibilities to hold this corrupt administration accountable, House Democrats are fighting to defend the integrity of our democratic institutions and to stop Donald Trump’s radical agenda, which endangers the health, safety and economic well-being of American families.”
During a press release on Jan. 8 in Washington D.C., Brownley reflected on her service. “Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime. Every step of this journey has been shaped by the people I represent, by their resilience, their determination, and their belief that government can and should work for the common good,” Brownley said. Elections for the House of Representatives will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.
