Julie Bornstein (born July 17, 1948) is an American attorney and politician from California and a member of the Democratic Party.
Bornstein served as a member of the Desert Community College Board of Trustees from 1989 until 1992, when she was elected to the California State Assembly. She is Jewish.
State Assembly
Previously numbered the 73rd, the new 80th Assembly district, had been redrawn during reapportionment and was open after incumbent David G. Kelley (R-Hemet) opted to instead run for State Senate.California Journal Vol. XXIII, No.5 (May 1992) "Election 1992". StateNet Publications, May 1992 Initially Bornstein faced a primary challenge from sitting assemblyman Steve Clute (D-Riverside), whose old district had been dismantled and part of which wound up redrawn here. At the last minute, he chose to retire instead, though his name remained on the ballot. In the general election, Bornstein defeated incumbent assemblywoman Tricia Hunter (R-San Diego), who like Clute saw her old district split up by reapportionment and part of which ended up redrawn here.California Journal Vol. XXIII, No.12 (December 1992) "Complete District by district results". StateNet Publications, December 1992.
Bornstein was awarded the prestigious "rookie of the year" from California Journal.California Journal Vol. XXV, No.7 (July 1994) "The June Primary". StateNet Publications, July 1994. Speaker Willie Brown elevated her to Democratic caucus chair, leading to speculation she was being groomed to be a future speaker. All this attention, and the fact that she represented a marginal seat made her the GOP's number one target for the 1994 elections.California Journal Vol. XXV, No.10 (November 1994) "Governor '94". StateNet Publications, November 1994. Even so, they failed to field a top-tier candidate after Hunter declined a rematch. In the 1994 election, the Republican Party did very well in California, and she lost to television advertising executive Jim Battin by 12 points, even though he was not initially seen as a threat.California Journal Vol. XXV, No.12 (December 1994) "Complete Election Results". StateNet Publications, December 1994.
Other posts
After her stint in the legislature, Bornstein served as Chief of Staff for California Controller Kathleen Connell, as well as Chief Deputy Controller for External Affairs from 1997 until 1999. She was then appointed by Governor Gray Davis as Director of Housing and Community Development, a post she held from 1999 until 2004.
From 2004 to 2006, she served as president for the Campaign for Affordable Housing
Congressional run
In 2008, Bornstein ran for the U.S. House of Representatives 45th district, then represented by Mary Bono (R-Palm Desert). Although that year saw big gains for Democrats, Bornstein scored just 41.7% of the vote against the incumbent.
Electoral history + Member, California State Assembly: 1992–1994YearOfficeDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct1992California State Assembly District 80Julie Bornstein56,76049.6%Tricia Hunter55,97149%1994California State Assembly District 80Julie Bornstein41,67143.7%Jim Battin53,79456.3%2008United States House of Representatives District 45Julie Bornstein111,02641.7%Mary Bono155,16658.3%
References