William Brown Jr.
Candidate for State Senate District 12
William Brown Jr is a candidate. He is the Libertarian Party nominee for California State Senate District 12. The general election is November 3, 2026. He is running against Republican Nathan Magsig. The seat is open. It is being vacated by termed-out incumbent Shannon Grove. Brown is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He served from 2000 to 2013. He worked as an F/A-18 avionics technician. He later worked in maintenance control and quality assurance. He deployed six times. Four of those tours were in combat zones. Those tours were during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He holds two bachelor's degrees. They are in political science and justice studies. He earned them from Arizona State University in 2014. He earned a master's degree in social work. That degree is from the University of Southern California, in 2016. He earned an MBA from West Texas A&M University in 2020. Brown works as a contract clinical social worker. He provides mental health treatment and assessments. He does this work for a state agency, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He also runs a private practice in the Central Valley. That practice is certified as a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise. He previously ran for California State Assembly District 32. He ran as the Libertarian candidate. That was in a February 2025 special primary. He did not advance. He has not previously held elected office. Brown advanced to the November 2026 general election. He finished second in the June 2026 top-two primary. That primary was for Senate District 12. The district covers most of Kern County. It also covers parts of eastern Tulare and Fresno counties. Home: Central Valley, California, in the Kern County area. His occupation is contract clinical social worker for a state agency. He also operates a private practice. Prior office: None. He has not held elected office before now. He was an unsuccessful Libertarian candidate for CA Assembly District 32. That was in a February 2025 special primary.
On the issues
- Government, Elections & Democracy
Refuses corporate PAC and special-interest money and self-funds his campaign, framing this as accountability to voters rather than donors.
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Wants to ease state regulations on small businesses and independent workers, including revisiting AB5's independent-contractor rules and cutting LLC/corporation fees for businesses earning under $250,000 a year.
“remove some of the things that prevent people from starting small businesses or working for themselves”
Source → - Health & Health Care
Wants to lower California's professional licensing fees and speed up licensing, arguing this would attract more out-of-state health and social-service providers and reduce barriers to care.
“it takes too long and costs too much to become licensed in California”
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community, citing his Catholic upbringing and a principle of loving one's neighbors.
“love our neighbors, plain and simple”
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Criticizes state government spending as wasteful and wants tax dollars tracked more transparently, tying this to underfunded roads and schools.
“our roads crumble and schools struggle”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.