California State Treasurer

Brown successfully ran for treasurer of California in 1990. After defeating Compton city treasurer Wesley Sanders in the Democratic primary, Brown faced Republican incumbent Thomas W. Hayes in the general election.^[2] Hayes, who had been appointed to the office a year prior, ran an advertisement asking voters if they “Remember Jerry Brown?” to tie her to her brother's unpopularity.

During the campaign, Brown described herself as the "financial Brown", and held a large financial advantage versus Hayes. Brown's strength among female voters and the electorate in Northern California ultimately powered her victory.^[3]

1994 gubernatorial election

In 1994, Brown ran for governor of California against Republican incumbent Pete Wilson. Her candidacy made her the third member of her family, after her father and brother, to run for the office. Running on the slogan "America's Best Treasurer to Revive America's Worst Economy", Brown's campaign focused on economic issues facing the state. Her campaign's senior advisor was Steve Glazer, who was later elected to the California State Senate.^[4]

In the spring of 1994, Brown appeared favored in the contest, with a Field Poll taken in April 1994 showing her with a 51 to 39 percent lead over the incumbent.^[5] By fall, however, polls had tightened considerably, which was partially credited to California's economic condition improving by election day.^[4]

Brown ultimately lost to Wilson, with the Los Angeles Times concluding that she "changed issues too often and ran out of money".^[6] Despite speculation that she would run for Governor again in 1998, she did not enter the race.^[7]