Jesse Jackson and Jerry Brown's Complicated Political Relationship

The two political figures had an up-and-down dynamic over the years, including a memorable encounter in 1979.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The death of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has sparked remembrances of his decades-long career. One episode that stands out is his complicated relationship with former California Governor Jerry Brown, whose political celebrity was comparable to Jackson's in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1979, when Jackson's organization PUSH held a convention in Cleveland, Brown was invited to speak, leading to an awkward interaction where Jackson asked Brown to donate money, which Brown declined. The two went on to have a contentious relationship as they both ran for president in the 1980s.

Why it matters

The relationship between Jackson and Brown highlights the dynamics between two prominent political figures of the era, both of whom sought the national spotlight. Their interactions shed light on the tensions and power struggles that can arise between political rivals, even those who ostensibly shared similar progressive values.

The details

In 1979, when PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), the organization founded by Jesse Jackson, held a convention in Cleveland, Jerry Brown, then the governor of California, was invited to speak. Brown, who was planning a second presidential campaign, appeared somewhat confused by the format of the event, which combined political speeches with religious elements like music and singing. When Jackson asked Brown to donate money to the organization, Brown declined, staring straight ahead. Later, Brown and his entourage, including a reporter, were invited to Jackson's hotel suite, where the two engaged in lively banter about politics and philosophy. On the way to the airport, the group also made an unscheduled stop at Cleveland's City Hall, where Brown met with the city's young, politically ambitious mayor, Dennis Kucinich.

  • In 1971, Jackson founded PUSH after splitting away from Martin Luther King's organization.
  • In 1979, PUSH held a convention in Cleveland where Brown was invited to speak.
  • In 1980, Brown ran for president again, but his campaign crashed in the Wisconsin primary.
  • In 1984, Jackson ran for president and delivered a thundering address at the Democratic convention in San Francisco, but failed to win the nomination.
  • In 1992, when Brown made his third White House bid, his relationship with Jackson became an issue.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights champion and political figure who founded the organization PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971 after splitting away from Martin Luther King's organization.

Jerry Brown

The former governor of California who was planning a second presidential campaign in 1979 and had a complicated relationship with Jesse Jackson over the years.

Dennis Kucinich

The young, politically ambitious mayor of Cleveland in 1979 who met with Jerry Brown and took him on a tour of the city.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I had covered Brown's first run for the White House in 1976 for the Sacramento Union and was curious about how his yearnings for the spotlight would play off Jackson's equally strong penchant for attention.”

— Dan Walters, Author (record-bee.com)

“At one point, Jackson turned to Brown and suggested he could donate. Brown stared straight ahead, neither responding nor giving. It was not surprising, given Brown's skinflint image.”

— Dan Walters, Author (record-bee.com)

The takeaway

The relationship between Jesse Jackson and Jerry Brown highlights the complex dynamics between two prominent political figures of the era, both of whom sought the national spotlight. Their interactions shed light on the tensions and power struggles that can arise between political rivals, even those who ostensibly shared similar progressive values.