Longtime California political leader John Burton dies at 92

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Former U.S. Rep. John Burton, a salty-tongued and unabashedly liberal San Francisco Democrat who stood up for the working class and nurtured countless political careers, including that of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died Sunday. He was 92.

Burton died in San Francisco of natural causes, his family said in a statement.

Burton was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature, and a former Chair of the California Democratic Party, with a career spanning for decades.

"John Burton devoted his career to advancing justice, expanding opportunity, and standing up for working families," according to Senator Alex Padilla. (D-CA).

Burton "led the fight to expand access to healthcare, strengthened protections for workers, increased funding for education, and helped establish our state as a national example for civil rights and environmental protection, while fiercely advocating for these core California values on the federal stage in the U.S. House of Representatives," Padilla added.

Burton was mentor to many politicians, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

"Personally, I will forever be grateful to John for managing my very first campaign for Congress in 1987, to fill the seat that belonged first to his brother, Philip, and then his sister-in-law, Sala. And for more than three decades in the Congress, I was blessed to have John as a source of wise counsel, sound judgement and brash humor - and he always served as a constant reinvigoration of my inspiration to carry on the fight For The People," Pelosi said in a statement.

Burton was born in Cincinnati and grew in San Francisco. He attended Lincoln High School in San Francisco before receiving his Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University (formerly San Francisco State College) in 1954.

Burton served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. Then, he received his JD from the University of San Francisco in 1960, according to Congress.

At age 32, Burton dove into politics, like his brother, the late Phillip Burton.

John was a member of the California State Legislature from 1965-1974. For one year, he was the chairman of the California state Democratic Party from 1973-1974.

Then for nine years, from June 4, 1974-January 3, 1983, Burton served in Congress.

Tributes poured in from California's top politicians, who recalled Burton as a fierce and tireless advocate for laborers, foster children and the environment. Over the years, Burton mentored Pelosi, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, current U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and countless other California officials.

Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X:

"When it comes to California politics, there was no one like John Burton. A legendary powerhouse that breathed life into our party and fought for a better California for everyone - uniting Democrats across race, belief, and background. His candor, passion, and empathy were contagious. May his legacy of courage and conviction live on in each of us. Rest in peace, my friend."

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi wrote:

"Our nation has lost a ferocious champion for working families. John Burton was a towering progressive warrior and dear friend whose big heart, sharp mind and boundless fight for justice shaped California and America. Paul and I mourn his passing with love for his family."

Another former San Francisco mayor, Willie Brown, said Sunday that death had managed to separate him from a dear friend who was by his side for decades - as college students where they first met, as fellow newbies in the state Assembly and as influential members of California's Democratic political machine.

"If you think about the world of civil rights, John Burton was involved at every level politically in that. If you think about gay and lesbian rights, 1969 when I introduced the bill, John Burton was the first person to stand up and co-sponsor that particular bill," Brown said.

Burton prided himself on being a liberal, and is credited with the massive success of the Democratic Party in California.

"From 1951 to his death when we were pals, buddies, and literally brothers period. I always found John Burton to be more informed, and in many cases, in many more opinionated than any other politician that I ever met, which means I had an opportunity to agree with a man that I considered the best at the political issues," Brown said.

"It was always fun and sometimes shocking to see him work a bill and he had this ability to make governors shiver in their shoes because he was so tough and so strong, and if he wanted to get something accomplished, if he wanted a bill to get through, it got through," said former U.S. Representative Jackie Speier.

Speier says Burton was a great supporter of a lot of her legislation, but he wasn't afraid of going against the grain.

"He used the f-word more than any person I have ever seen and you wanted to duck if he was in one of those moods, but he could also be the most compassionate leader," Speier said.

"You could sum up John Burton in a lot of ways but one might be John Burton 'no BS.' That's the way the guy was, he was gruff, he was rough, but he got things done and had a good heart behind him when he did it," said ABC7 News Insider Phil Matier.

Matier, along with Speier and Brown; all brought up Burton's recent work in making a foundation for foster youth who aged out of the system at 18.

That, just the most recent in a long legacy of accomplishments in policies to help the poor, the working, and those that he felt were unfairly targeted.

"John Burton was so well informed that he would give you a chance to hear what the true facts were, you could then make an opinion after that, but you were aware that his opinion was coming from a factual caption of the real question," said Brown.

Senator Alex Padilla issued a statement, writing in part:

"John was bluntly honest and never shied away from a fight if it meant protecting the vulnerable and giving a voice to the voiceless - a mission he carried on even after his political career by providing a pathway to a better life for thousands of foster youth and securing billions of dollars to invest in their success."

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey wrote on X.

"I'm saddened to learn of John Burton's passing. Among his multitude of admirable qualities for which he will be praised in the days to come, his vulnerability and courage in owning and recovering from drug addiction is what most inspired me. Thank you, Senator. Rest in peace."

Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued a statement writing:

"John Burton was a giant of San Francisco & California politics. He moved mountains for our community & stood up for progressive values even when it wasn't popular. His passing is a huge loss. As authoritarianism rises, John's memory gives us resolve to fight. Rest in power."

Burton believed that government was at its best when it served those who needed it the most, and he never backed down from a fight, said state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks.

"The greatest way to honor John Burton is to keep fighting with the same grit, tenacity, and heart that defined his life," Hicks said in a statement.

"He cared a lot," said Burton's daughter, Kimiko Burton. "He always instilled in me that we fight for the underdog. There are literally millions of people whose lives he helped over the years who have no idea who he is."

The Associated Press' Janie Har contributed to this report