John Burton, a powerful and iconic figure in California Democratic politics, passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the age of 92.

A former U.S. Congressman, State Assemblyman and State Senate President Pro Tem, Burton was known as a champion for the working class and the poor.

Burton's influence spanned six decades, and he was instrumental in shaping California's progressive policies. In 1964, he was elected to the California State Assembly, and in 1974, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served alongside his brother, Congressman Phillip Burton.

Burton was public about his reasons for leaving politics temporarily—he had a cocaine addiction. But after treatment, he made a successful comeback in 1988, eventually becoming the powerful Senate president pro

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