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William Brough

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William Brough
Republican Party
Candidate, U.S. House California District 47
Prior offices:
California State Assembly District 73
Years in office: 2014 - 2020
Successor: Laurie Davies (R)
Elections and appointments
Last election
March 3, 2020
Next election
June 2, 2026
Personal
Profession
Government Affairs Consultant
Contact
Personal Facebook
Personal LinkedIn

William Brough (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 47th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the primary on June 2, 2026.[source]

Brough (Republican Party) (also known as Bill) was a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 73. He assumed office on December 1, 2014. He left office on December 7, 2020.

Biography

Bill Brough served on the Dana Point City Council from 2010 to 2014 and operated a government affairs consulting firm from 2005 to 2014. Brough has served in a variety of capacities including as the White House liaison at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. during the Bush administration and as a congressional aide to former Congressman Chris Cox.[1]

After high school, Brough enlisted in the U.S. Army. He then graduated from the University of Connecticut.[1]

Committee assignments

2019-2020

Brough was assigned to the following committees:

Brough was removed from his committee assignments on May 27, 2020. Click here to learn more.

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Brough served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: California's 47th Congressional District election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 47

The following candidates are running in the primary for U.S. House California District 47 on June 2, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Dave Min
Dave Min (D)
Image of Hunter Miranda
Hunter Miranda (D)  Candidate Connection
Image of William Brough
William Brough (R)
Image of Christopher Gonzales
Christopher Gonzales (R)
Image of Jenny Rae Le Roux
Jenny Rae Le Roux (R)
Image of Michael Maxsenti
Michael Maxsenti (R)
Image of Derrick Michael Reid
Derrick Michael Reid (L)
Image of Jesus Patino
Jesus Patino (No party preference)  Candidate Connection
Image of Eric Troutman
Eric Troutman (No party preference)  Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

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2020

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2020

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 73

Laurie Davies defeated Scott Rhinehart in the general election for California State Assembly District 73 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laurie Davies
Laurie Davies (R)
 
58.5
 
161,650
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Scott Rhinehart (D)
 
41.5
 
114,578

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 276,228
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 73

Laurie Davies and Scott Rhinehart defeated Chris Duncan, incumbent William Brough, and Ed Sachs in the primary for California State Assembly District 73 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laurie Davies
Laurie Davies (R)
 
27.3
 
41,499
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Scott Rhinehart (D)
 
23.8
 
36,170
Image of Chris Duncan
Chris Duncan (D) Candidate Connection
 
18.4
 
27,993
Image of William Brough
William Brough (R)
 
16.6
 
25,281
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ed Sachs (R)
 
13.9
 
21,089

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 152,032
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2018

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2018

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 73

Incumbent William Brough defeated Scott Rhinehart in the general election for California State Assembly District 73 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brough
William Brough (R)
 
56.2
 
115,636
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Scott Rhinehart (D)
 
43.8
 
90,016

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 205,652
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 73

Incumbent William Brough and Scott Rhinehart defeated Ed Sachs in the primary for California State Assembly District 73 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brough
William Brough (R)
 
47.1
 
55,579
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Scott Rhinehart (D)
 
39.4
 
46,436
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ed Sachs (R)
 
13.5
 
15,981

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 117,996
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[2]

Incumbent William Brough defeated Mesbah Islam in the California State Assembly District 73 general election.[3][4]

California State Assembly, District 73 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png William Brough Incumbent 68.78% 144,653
     Democratic Mesbah Islam 31.22% 65,662
Total Votes 210,315
Source: California Secretary of State


Incumbent William Brough and Mesbah Islam were unopposed in the California State Assembly District 73 Blanket primary.[5][6]

California State Assembly, District 73 Blanket Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png William Brough Incumbent
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Mesbah Islam

2014

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Wendy Gabriella (D) and William "Bill" Brough (R) defeated Anna Bryson (R), Paul G. Glaab (R) and Jesse Petrilla (R) in the blanket primary. Brough defeated Gabriella in the general election.[7][8][9]

California State Assembly, District 73, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam "Bill" Brough 67.9% 76,783
     Democratic Wendy Gabriella 32.1% 36,292
Total Votes 113,075
California State Assembly, District 73 Blanket Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngWendy Gabriella 27.8% 16,420
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Brough 27.7% 16,365
     Republican Jesse Petrilla 19.1% 11,287
     Republican Paul G. Glaab 14.2% 8,353
     Republican Anna Bryson 11.1% 6,549
Total Votes 58,974

Endorsements

In 2014, Brough's endorsements included the following:[10]

  • Mayor Sam Allevato, San Juan Capistrano
  • Mayor Pro Tem Larry Kramer, San Juan Capistrano
  • Councilman Roy Byrnes, San Juan Capistrano
  • Mayor Carol Gamble, Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Mayor Pro Tem Brad McGirr, Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Councilman Tony Beall, Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Former Mayor Neil Blais, Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Former Mayor Gary Thompson, Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Mayor Andrew Blount, Laguna Hills
  • Mayor Pro Tem Dore Gilbert, Laguna Hills
  • Councilwoman Melody Carruth, Laguna Hills
  • Former Mayor Allan Songstad, Laguna Hills
  • Mayor Tim Brown, San Clemente
  • Councilman Bob Baker, San Clemente
  • Councilman Jim Evert, San Clemente
  • Mayor Pro Tem Jerry McCloskey, Laguna Niguel
  • Former Mayor Cassie DeYoung, Laguna Niguel
  • Councilman Mike Munzing, Aliso Viejo
  • Councilman Carlos Olvera, Dana Point
  • Former Mayor, Col. Joe Snyder, Dana Point

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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2020

William Brough did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

William Brough campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House California District 47On the Ballot primary$0 N/A**
2020California State Assembly District 73Lost primary$268,072 N/A**
2016California State Assembly, District 73Won $517,124 N/A**
2014California State Assembly, District 28Won $214,762 N/A**
Grand total$999,958 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Noteworthy events

Sexual harassment investigation and removal from committee assignments

On May 27, 2020, the California State Assembly removed Brough from his session committee assignments after an investigative panel found that he engaged in sexual harassment on two different occasions. The Assembly's Workplace Conduct Unit first opened the investigation after four women filed complaints alleging that Brough had sexually harassed them. Brough was mandated to attend a workplace conduct training as a result.[11] Brough issued a statement in response that said, "I was notified today that the Assembly Workplace Conduct Unit (WCU) determined that I violated the Legislature’s policy on appropriate workplace conduct. I disagree with the findings and the politically motivated process. I do not believe the WCU did a complete and fair investigation; they completely dismissed many of the collaborated, factual elements...I categorically deny harassing or offering political favors to anyone. I will take the recommended training. I also want to apologize to my family, friends and supporters for putting them through this unfair process."[12]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in California

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2015.

See also

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External links

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 California State Assembly, "Assemblyman Bill Brough," accessed September 29, 2019
    2. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
    3. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
    4. ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
    5. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
    6. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
    7. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
    8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
    9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
    10. ↑ billbrough.org, "Endorsements," accessed May 14, 2014
    11. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Assemblyman William Brough loses committee assignments after sexual misconduct investigation," May 27, 2020
    12. ↑ Brough State Assembly, "Assemblyman Bill Brough Issues Statement," accessed July 14, 2020

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		California State Assembly District 73
    2014-2020    		 Succeeded by
    Laurie Davies (R)


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