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One Voter Project

The Online Home of California's Political History

October 24, 2011 By Alex Vassar

History Note: Brothers in the Senate

On September 1st, Assemblyman Bill Berryhill announced his candidacy for the new State Senate District 5. If elected, he would join his brother State Senator Tom Berryhill and become only the second siblings to serve together concurrently in the upper house.

The only brothers to serve in the Senate at the same time were Robert I. and John F. McCarthy, who served in the State Senate from 1954-1958. One notable difference between the Berryhills and the McCarthys; the Berryhills are both Republicans, while the McCarthys disagreed on their politics; Robert was a Democrat, and Jack was a Republican.

During their service together, Jack authored the bill which created the Bay Area Rapid Transit District [BART]. He later became Minority Leader in the California State Senate (1967).

Filed Under: 2012 Election, Current Research, JoinCalifornia, State Senate

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