Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Gov. Jerry Brown Endorses Hillary Clinton

SACRAMENTO (CN) — Warning of the need to stop the "dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump," Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday ended his silence and endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, a week before Clinton's crucial primary contest with Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Brown, a four-term governor who sought the Democratic nomination won by Bill Clinton in 1992, called Hillary Clinton's lead over Sanders "insurmountable" and urged Democrats to come together before the general election.

"Hillary Clinton, with her long experience, especially as secretary of state, has a firm grasp of the issues and will be prepared to lead our country on day one," Brown wrote in a letter to California Democrats and Independents.

Clinton hopes to wrap up the Democratic nomination on June 7, when voters in California and four other states cast their ballots. Recent polls show Sanders and Clinton in a tight race in California. Should Sanders edge Clinton in California, it can be expected to add drama to the Democratic National Convention in July.

Brown, who is a superdelegate, said he was "deeply impressed" with Sanders, who has been vigorously campaigning in the Golden State.

"He has driven home the message that the top 1 percent has unfairly captured way too much of America's wealth, leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted a similar campaign," Brown wrote in his letter.

After falling well behind Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential primary, Brown, like Sanders today, refused calls to drop out of the race. There was no love lost between Brown and Bill Clinton after Brown, in a televised debate, Brown accused Bill Clinton of directing Arkansas state business to his wife's law firm.

Clinton responded then that Brown was not fit to stand on the same stage as Hillary Clinton.

Last week the two met privately in Sacramento before Bill Clinton gave a speech in support of his wife's campaign.

Brown ended the letter by blasting Trump's position on climate change, immigration and the expectation that he would nominate an extreme right-wing Supreme Court justice.

"A new cold war is on the horizon. This is no time for Democrats to keep fighting each other," Brown wrote.

Follow @@NickCahill_5
Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...