Brown spins through labor reception

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

California’s labor unions spent millions electing Jerry Brown as governor, airing bruising ads against Republican candidate Meg Whitman as Brown hoarded his precious resources for the fall campaign.

Hours after being sworn in Monday, Brown made an unannounced stop at a labor reception to thank them for the help.

And while another union celebration on the Capitol lawn featuring free water, hot dogs and chips was heavily advertised, this upscale private reception, on the seventh-floor patio of a downtown hotel where booze was flowing freely, was not.

Waiters bearing dessert platters weaved through the crowd as labor leaders celebrated the Democrats’ clean sweep of every statewide office in California in the November election. As union leaders noshed on olives, cheeses and mini-sandwiches, Brown worked the room, hugging supporters, shaking their hands and signing copies of a ‘California Labor Delivers’ poster that attendees were given.

Other Democratic officials whirled through the California Labor Federation reception, as well, including Lt. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, Controller John Chiang and a handful of lawmakers.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento