Fact Check: Was Willie Brown still married while dating Kamala Harris? The truth about the yearlong affair

WASHINGTON, DC: Personal relationships often become fodder for controversy and speculation when one enters public life.

Soon after Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 race, rumors concerning her affair with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and his supposed influence on her political career resurfaced. So, let's find out the truth behind such claims. 

The claims linking Kamala Harris to Willie Brown

As per the claims, Kamala Harris had an extramarital affair with Willie Brown when she was 29 and he was 60. During this relationship, Brown supposedly appointed Harris to two political posts, which purportedly served as the foundation of her political ascent.

 This narrative has been used to paint the vice president as someone who "slept her way to the top."

What's true

Kamala Harris did indeed date Willie Brown between 1994 and 1995. At the time, Brown was a prominent figure in California politics, serving as the Speaker of the California State Assembly. During their relationship, Brown appointed Harris to two important positions on the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later on the Medical Assistance Commission.

What's false

Although Willie Brown was still legally married when he began dating Kamala Harris, he had been separated from his wife, Blanche Brown, for 13 years by then. Thus, characterizing the relationship as an "extramarital affair" is misleading.

Moreover, while it is true that Brown appointed Harris to two political positions, it is important to note that these appointments occurred years before Harris ran for and won her first elective office in 2003, eight years after their relationship ended, according to Snopes.

Origins of the claim 

The narrative initially gained traction in 2020 after Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate. A headline from Teaparty.org at the time read, "Flashback: Kamala Harris Launched Her Political Career In Bedroom As Mistress Of Married Mayor Willie Brown."

It once again gained steam and spread rapidly across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok, in July 2024, after President Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Vice President Harris.

Several prominent conservatives, including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, argued that Harris' past relationship with Brown was relevant to her presidential bid, suggesting it showcased her "ruthlessness" and "ambition."

Examining the facts

Timeline of Kamala Harris' career

Kamala Harris' relationship with Willie Brown blossomed while she was working as an assistant district attorney in Alameda County, California. Brown's appointments of Harris to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission took place in 1994.

In 2003, eight years after her relationship with Brown ended, Harris successfully ran for district attorney of San Francisco, a position she held until 2011. She then served as California's Attorney General from 2011 to 2017, before being elected to the US Senate in 2016.

Public acknowledgment and rebuttal

Both Kamala Harris and Willie Brown have openly acknowledged their past relationship. In a 2019 San Francisco Chronicle op-ed, Brown wrote, "Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago. Yes, I may have influenced her career by appointing her to two state commissions when I was Assembly speaker."

He added, "And I certainly helped with her first race for district attorney in San Francisco. I have also helped the careers of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov Gavin Newsom, Sen Dianne Feinstein, and a host of other politicians." 

Context of the relationship

The key point of contention in these claims is whether Willie Brown's influence was a result of a romantic relationship or if it had a more substantial impact on Kamala Harris’ career trajectory. While Brown's appointments were indeed made during their relationship, the extent to which they facilitated Harris’ career advancement is subject to scrutiny.

Harris' major electoral successes came years after her relationship with Brown ended.

Misleading aspects of the claim

Painting the relationship as an extramarital affair

One of the primary inaccuracies in the claim is the portrayal of the relationship as an affair involving a married man. As mentioned, although Willie Brown was married when he and Kamala Harris began their relationship, he and his wife had been separated for 13 years by then.

Exaggeration of Willie Brown's influence

The rumors suggest that Willie Brown’s appointments of Kamala Harris were a significant factor in her political rise.

However, Harris’ subsequent career achievements, including her successful campaigns for District Attorney and US Senate, indicate that her professional advancement was not solely reliant on her relationship with Brown.

Los Angeles Magazine provides further context, noting that Brown’s appointments were part of a broader pattern of filling positions with associates and allies.

The magazine reported in 2019, "At the time, Brown had a reputation for filling many openings with his personal associates and inner circle; when Harris vacated the Appeals Board gig, he replaced her with his longtime buddy Philip S Ryan."

Kamala Harris' defense

Kamala Harris has addressed these claims directly. In a 2019 interview with SF Weekly, she asserted her independence from Willie Brown’s influence.

"I refuse to design my campaign around criticizing Willie Brown for the sake of appearing to be independent when I have no doubt that I am independent of him — and that he would probably right now express some fright about the fact that he cannot control me," declared Harris, adding, "His career is over; I will be alive and kicking for the next 40 years. I do not owe him a thing."

She added, regarding Brown's appointments: "These jobs were created before I was born. Whether you agree or disagree with the system, I did the work. I worked hard to keep St. Luke's Hospital [in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood] open. I brought a level of life knowledge and common sense to the jobs. I mean, if you were asked to be on a board that regulated medical care, would you say no?"

Conclusion: A mixed truth

The rumors that link Kamala Harris' relationship with Willie Brown to her progression in politics are rather misleading.

It is true that Harris and Brown dated and that he appointed her to two positions. However, the portrayal of the relationship as an extramarital affair is inaccurate, as Brown and his wife had been separated long before the relationship began.

Moreover, the suggestion that these appointments were the primary drivers of Harris’ career success may exaggerate their influence.