Autumn Burke, D-Inglewood, the state Assemblymember who represents the 62nd District, posted on social media that she has resigned her position effective Feb. 1.
In a surprise announcement posted on Twitter and Facebook, Burke said after taking personal inventory, it was “of the utmost importance that I have the flexibility and ability to spend more time with my family.”
Burke’s resignation brings the Assembly’s total vacancies to five — the highest in the state’s recent history.
“This is the first sort of exodus of a larger number of elected officials coming up against their term limit,” said Mark Gonzalez, chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, in an interview Tuesday.
Some are calling it the “Great Resignation,” as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many politicians — including Burke — to re-think their personal and professional goals.
Burke, first elected in 2014, said in the Jan. 31 post she had hoped to finish out her term, which ends in December, but that circumstances have recently changed.
In the post, the Los Angeles native called her decision to step down “one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
In 2021, Democratic Assembly members Jim Frazier, Lorena Gonzalez and Ed Chau announced their resignations — to pursue different jobs.
Frazier, who previously chaired the Assembly Transportation Committee, announced his resignation effective Dec. 31 — with the intent to find another job in the field of transportation.
Chau resigned after Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him as a state judge, and Democratic assemblyman David Chiu — facing his term limit in 2026 — left the Assembly in 2021 to become San Francisco’s city attorney.
Gonzalez — former chair of the Appropriations Committee — announced her resignation from the Assembly, effective Jan. 5, to serve as the California Labor Federation’s executive secretary-treasurer.
“I think it’s a case-by-case basis,” Gonzalez, the Democratic committee chair, said. “It’s contingent on the opportunity,” he said, noting Chau and Frazier’s recent departures, “and it’s contingent on the future and what focus they have on their family.”
Several other Assembly members have announced they will not run for re-election — but will instead pursue election to the state Senate, with some aiming even higher — for Congress.
There was no indication in the announcement that Burke is planning a similar move in the private sector — or would continue in a different role in government.
She did, however, write about continuing the work she started in advocating for Black Americans.
“I look forward to continuing to work passionately for the issues most pressing to the state of California,” wrote Burke.
“At the forefront of my work, I will continue to focus on lifting African Americans by helping grow the black voice throughout the entire political process and at all levels of government.”
Burke ended her resignation announcement saying she was grateful and proud of her daughter who she said has been with her every step of her journey.
The letter to her constituents is signed “Autumn Burke and Isabella.”
But, if Burke jumps back into politics at some point in the future, her abrupt resignation from the Assembly will likely have little effect on her success, said Tom Hogen-Esch, chair of the political science department at Cal State Northridge.
“Having kids in school is the hardest thing for families,” he said, noting that plenty of parents with school-aged children are making similar decisions. “If the kids have to quarantine because they’ve been exposed and your job expects you to be there, that’s really hard,” Hogen-Esch said.
Hogen-Esch said a key issue is with Burke’s sudden departure from the assembly, her constituents will be unrepresented for an unknown amount of time.
Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for Los Angeles County registrar’s office, said the process to fill Burke’s Assembly seat is still being determined.
“The governor will establish the dates for the vacancy per provisions in the state constitution and elections code,” Sanchez said.
This was the case for Chau — who resigned in December 2021. The primary to fill his seat is Feb. 15.
“She’s done an incredible job,” said Gonzalez about Burke, “Her district has been fortunate to have her focus on both family and community in the Assembly.”
Some of Burke’s accomplishments in her seven years in office include:
- Creation of California’s Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Act directing the state to reduce deep child poverty by 50%;
- Author of the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit providing direct financial relief to Californians;
- Author of a large tax credit for small businesses;
- Author of legislation that brought in more than $1 billion dollars of out-of-state money from internet sales to California;
- Author of the Transformative Climate Communities legislation to create opportunities for urban communities to ensure they weren’t overlooked in the climate change discussion;
- Coauthor of SB796 — flagship legislation that could pave the way for the county to return beachfront property to a Black family robbed of its opportunity to gain generational wealth.
Burke is the daughter of former Assemblywoman, congresswoman and county supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and William Burke, a former chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board.
Autumn Burke’s election marked the first time a mother and daughter have both served in the Assembly. Her mother was the first member of Congress to give birth while serving in office.