Newsom's Top Aide Steps Down; Former Harris Adviser to Fill Position.
Dana Williamson, a seasoned figure in Sacramento politics, departed from the governor's office on Friday. Nathan Barankin is set to take over her role as Newsom's chief.
TroibNews 
SACRAMENTO, California — Dana Williamson, who served as chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom, has left the governor’s office. Her departure came on Friday.
Williamson, known among Newsom's aides as his “political assassin” in Sacramento, will be succeeded by Nathan Barankin, a seasoned political operative who recently joined the governor’s team after working as a political consultant and adviser to Kamala Harris. Barankin will officially take on his new responsibilities starting Monday.
“I greatly appreciate Dana’s counsel and her service to the state and the people of California over the last two years. Her insight, tenacity, and big heart will be missed,” said Newsom in a statement.
“While we bid farewell to a fighter in Dana, I am thrilled to welcome Nathan to this role. His leadership and vision will ensure our administration continues delivering on our promise to create a more affordable, healthy, and prosperous California,” he added.
Although Barankin is new to the governor’s office, he has extensive experience in both Sacramento and Washington. He previously served as a top aide to former state Senate leader and California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and later as chief of staff to Harris during her time as attorney general and U.S. Senator. His previous position at the state’s Department of Justice becomes particularly relevant as California anticipates possible legal challenges from the incoming Trump administration.
Barankin is married to Ann Patterson, who is Newsom’s cabinet secretary. With his promotion to chief of staff, Patterson will now report directly to Newsom to adhere to the office’s nepotism policy regarding married couples.
“I am deeply humbled to step into this role at a time of both challenge and opportunity. As chief of staff, my focus will be on serving the people of California by advancing the Governor’s bold agenda to create jobs, ensure safe neighborhoods, and improve the health and well-being of every family in our state,” Barankin stated.
Williamson was the third individual to hold the chief of staff position under Newsom, who still has two years left in his final term. Direct and unyielding, Williamson was known for her straightforward approach. Within Newsom’s broader circle, where aides often navigate delicately, she carried many of his grievances and maintained some of her own. Despite her influence, she preferred to stay out of the limelight and only occasionally participated in on-the-record interviews.
Prior to her tenure with Newsom, Williamson led her own consulting firm, Grace Public Affairs, and served as a senior aide to various California officials, including as cabinet secretary for former Governor Jerry Brown, and supporting former Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. She also played a strategic role in significant ballot measure campaigns, notably those centered on criminal justice reform.
Initially, Williamson did not have a close relationship with Newsom when she took over as his top aide from Jim DeBoo. However, she quickly established herself as a key member of his inner circle, adeptly managing complex legislative challenges related to critical issues, ranging from climate policy to labor rights.
“He's a little bit of a celebrity governor, and that can be intimidating to some people. And she is not intimidated. She gives zero fucks, which is part of what makes her so great,” remarked Anthony York, a former communications director for Newsom. “Some in the Legislature may disagree, and some who end up on the wrong side of a text from Dana may disagree, but that's what I love about her. And that was really essential, that the two of them were able to build that relationship right away,” he added.
Throughout her nearly two-year tenure, Williamson played a crucial role in pivotal initiatives within Newsom's office. Early on, she was instrumental in legislation requiring oil market participants to provide extensive data to a new division within the California Energy Commission, which would assess potential profit caps on oil refiners. The following year, Newsom gained authority to regulate oil refineries and curb price surges due to maintenance and supply issues.
Williamson also facilitated the rapid selection process for Laphonza Butler as a U.S. senator following Dianne Feinstein’s passing.
Her task of “cleaning up” the statewide ballot made Williamson a highly respected yet intimidating figure within Sacramento politics.
With close ties to influential labor leaders such as SEIU’s Tia Orr and California Teachers Association's Teri Holoman, Williamson contributed to a truce in 2023 between unions and fast food companies over worker regulations, helping to mitigate what could have turned into costly ballot fights. On several occasions, she sought to resolve potential inner-party conflicts through legislation instead of allowing them to escalate to the ballot.
Last year, she successfully negotiated a deal between business and labor regarding the Private Attorneys General Act to avoid a costly ballot measure. However, not all negotiations were fruitful, as Newsom and the Democrats could not thwart Proposition 36, which increased penalties for certain theft and drug-related offenses on the November ballot.
One of Williamson’s most significant achievements alongside Newsom was the passage of Proposition 1, which rewrote the state’s longstanding mental health legislation and was narrowly approved in March. She was involved from the beginning of this initiative, which authorized borrowing $6.4 billion for new facilities aimed at treating severe mental health cases. This issue was particularly personal for her, as she has shared her family’s struggles with mental health.
Williamson's relationships often gained attention, particularly on her pointed Twitter feed where she sparred with lawmakers and advocates, including California Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez. When a Central Valley lawmaker, the only Democrat to vote against Newsom's oil profits bill, posted about feeling isolated in her opposition, Williamson responded with characteristic sharpness: “Alone and confused you shall likely remain.”
While Williamson did not share her immediate plans after leaving, she reminisced warmly about her experiences with Newsom's administration.
“In two short years, we’ve made a lasting impact — two special sessions, workplace reforms that hadn't been touched in decades, a minimum wage increase for fast food workers, and mental health reforms that will be felt by every Californian,” she conveyed. “It’s hard to leave this work. I've had the honor of serving under three governors and when asked what I will miss the most, my answer is always the same — the privilege of working with some of the smartest and most committed people I've ever known. I'm grateful for every day that I've had.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
Williamson, known among Newsom's aides as his “political assassin” in Sacramento, will be succeeded by Nathan Barankin, a seasoned political operative who recently joined the governor’s team after working as a political consultant and adviser to Kamala Harris. Barankin will officially take on his new responsibilities starting Monday.
“I greatly appreciate Dana’s counsel and her service to the state and the people of California over the last two years. Her insight, tenacity, and big heart will be missed,” said Newsom in a statement.
“While we bid farewell to a fighter in Dana, I am thrilled to welcome Nathan to this role. His leadership and vision will ensure our administration continues delivering on our promise to create a more affordable, healthy, and prosperous California,” he added.
Although Barankin is new to the governor’s office, he has extensive experience in both Sacramento and Washington. He previously served as a top aide to former state Senate leader and California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and later as chief of staff to Harris during her time as attorney general and U.S. Senator. His previous position at the state’s Department of Justice becomes particularly relevant as California anticipates possible legal challenges from the incoming Trump administration.
Barankin is married to Ann Patterson, who is Newsom’s cabinet secretary. With his promotion to chief of staff, Patterson will now report directly to Newsom to adhere to the office’s nepotism policy regarding married couples.
“I am deeply humbled to step into this role at a time of both challenge and opportunity. As chief of staff, my focus will be on serving the people of California by advancing the Governor’s bold agenda to create jobs, ensure safe neighborhoods, and improve the health and well-being of every family in our state,” Barankin stated.
Williamson was the third individual to hold the chief of staff position under Newsom, who still has two years left in his final term. Direct and unyielding, Williamson was known for her straightforward approach. Within Newsom’s broader circle, where aides often navigate delicately, she carried many of his grievances and maintained some of her own. Despite her influence, she preferred to stay out of the limelight and only occasionally participated in on-the-record interviews.
Prior to her tenure with Newsom, Williamson led her own consulting firm, Grace Public Affairs, and served as a senior aide to various California officials, including as cabinet secretary for former Governor Jerry Brown, and supporting former Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. She also played a strategic role in significant ballot measure campaigns, notably those centered on criminal justice reform.
Initially, Williamson did not have a close relationship with Newsom when she took over as his top aide from Jim DeBoo. However, she quickly established herself as a key member of his inner circle, adeptly managing complex legislative challenges related to critical issues, ranging from climate policy to labor rights.
“He's a little bit of a celebrity governor, and that can be intimidating to some people. And she is not intimidated. She gives zero fucks, which is part of what makes her so great,” remarked Anthony York, a former communications director for Newsom. “Some in the Legislature may disagree, and some who end up on the wrong side of a text from Dana may disagree, but that's what I love about her. And that was really essential, that the two of them were able to build that relationship right away,” he added.
Throughout her nearly two-year tenure, Williamson played a crucial role in pivotal initiatives within Newsom's office. Early on, she was instrumental in legislation requiring oil market participants to provide extensive data to a new division within the California Energy Commission, which would assess potential profit caps on oil refiners. The following year, Newsom gained authority to regulate oil refineries and curb price surges due to maintenance and supply issues.
Williamson also facilitated the rapid selection process for Laphonza Butler as a U.S. senator following Dianne Feinstein’s passing.
Her task of “cleaning up” the statewide ballot made Williamson a highly respected yet intimidating figure within Sacramento politics.
With close ties to influential labor leaders such as SEIU’s Tia Orr and California Teachers Association's Teri Holoman, Williamson contributed to a truce in 2023 between unions and fast food companies over worker regulations, helping to mitigate what could have turned into costly ballot fights. On several occasions, she sought to resolve potential inner-party conflicts through legislation instead of allowing them to escalate to the ballot.
Last year, she successfully negotiated a deal between business and labor regarding the Private Attorneys General Act to avoid a costly ballot measure. However, not all negotiations were fruitful, as Newsom and the Democrats could not thwart Proposition 36, which increased penalties for certain theft and drug-related offenses on the November ballot.
One of Williamson’s most significant achievements alongside Newsom was the passage of Proposition 1, which rewrote the state’s longstanding mental health legislation and was narrowly approved in March. She was involved from the beginning of this initiative, which authorized borrowing $6.4 billion for new facilities aimed at treating severe mental health cases. This issue was particularly personal for her, as she has shared her family’s struggles with mental health.
Williamson's relationships often gained attention, particularly on her pointed Twitter feed where she sparred with lawmakers and advocates, including California Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez. When a Central Valley lawmaker, the only Democrat to vote against Newsom's oil profits bill, posted about feeling isolated in her opposition, Williamson responded with characteristic sharpness: “Alone and confused you shall likely remain.”
While Williamson did not share her immediate plans after leaving, she reminisced warmly about her experiences with Newsom's administration.
“In two short years, we’ve made a lasting impact — two special sessions, workplace reforms that hadn't been touched in decades, a minimum wage increase for fast food workers, and mental health reforms that will be felt by every Californian,” she conveyed. “It’s hard to leave this work. I've had the honor of serving under three governors and when asked what I will miss the most, my answer is always the same — the privilege of working with some of the smartest and most committed people I've ever known. I'm grateful for every day that I've had.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
