SACRAMENTO — Nathan Barankin, who began his career as a legislative fellow in Sacramento and later became Kamala Harris’ top aide in California and Washington, will join Gov. Gavin Newsom’s senior staff on Tuesday, he and other advisers confirmed to POLITICO.
Barankin, who takes over as Newsom’s senior adviser, returns to state government after working as a political adviser and strategist in recent years. He previously served as chief of staff to Harris in the U.S. Senate and played a secondary role as an adviser to her 2020 presidential campaign. Before moving to Washington, Brankin was chief deputy attorney general of California under Harris, serving for a period of approximately 18 hours after her swearing-in to the Senate as acting attorney general of California.
Barankin’s arrival in Newsom’s orbit comes a few months after the departure of Jason Elliott, the closest and longest-serving adviser in the governor’s office. While Barankin is far less familiar with Newsom, he is expected to play a similarly versatile role that aides describe as a “Swiss army knife.”
Barankin is married to Ann Patterson, Newsom’s cabinet secretary and a top legal adviser to the governor. He joins Patterson, chief of staff Dana Williamson, senior advisor Jamie Callahan and top communications advisors Bob Salladay and Izzy Gardon on the senior team.
“Barankin has a wealth of experience and is one of the most stable figures in politics,” Williamson said. She and Barankin have had conversations about Newsom’s style and approach. “He’s used to working with high-performing directors,” she said.
The move comes ahead of another transition point for Newsom, who has about two years left in his term as governor. In an interview, Barankin said he always wanted to work for a California governor, going back to his time in the state legislature. His years in the private sector as a consultant to various clients – the details of which he must disclose in a declaration of economic interest – led him to conclude that he lacked both the pace and privilege of government.
“California is my home,” said Barankin, who was born in San Diego and raised in Sacramento. “I love this state and its people and the opportunity to serve them on behalf of a governor who has done so much for the state and wants to accomplish so much more is an honor.”
Before moving to Washington to work with Harris, Barankin began his career as a fellow under then-Senator Bill Lockyer, then chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Barankin continued with Lockyer when he became president pro tem of the Senate. Barankin also followed Lockyer after he was elected attorney general and served as his communications director for eight years. And during Lockyer’s second term, he became a lawyer himself after attending law school at night at McGeorge.
Barankin passed the bar exam and worked under then-Attorney General Jerry Brown in the Office of Civil Defense, helping write the titles and summaries for ballot measures. He returned to the Capitol to work for then-Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg as his legal counsel, and Patterson helped Harris with her transition to the attorney general’s office. In 2011, Barankin became Harris’ second chief of staff.
