Continue to Hollywoodlife () SKIP AD
Hollywood Life Logo Image

Hollywood Life

Today's Top Stories

  • Dolly Parton
    Listen

    10 Country Songs Currently On Repeat: Dolly Parton, Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce & More

  • Juice Wrld
    Report

    Juice Wrld: Rapper Allegedly Took Several ‘Unknown Pills’ Before Fatal Seizure

  • Breaking News

    Cindy’s Feelings On Kaia Gerber & Pete Davidson’s Romance Finally Revealed

Hollywood Life
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Celebrity Bios
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Portrait Series
  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions
ALL NEWS
  • chris brown royalty brown

    Chris Brown Shows Off His Stunning Daughter Royalty, 5, In Sweet New Pic: She’s ‘My Joy’

  • Cassie Gives Birth To First Child With Husband Alex Fine — Report

  • Juice Wrld: Rapper Allegedly Took Several ‘Unknown Pills’ Before Fatal Seizure

  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Holidays
  • Entertainment Features
  • Podcast
  • Quiz
  • Oscar Contenders
ALL ENTERTAINMENT
  • Karamo Brown Reveals ‘Every Single’ ‘DWTS’ Cast Member, Except Kel Mitchell, Came To Him For Advice

  • 10 Country Songs Currently On Repeat: Dolly Parton, Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce & More

  • Nick Cannon Shouts Out Eminem’s Daughter Hailie In Diss Track After His Mariah Carey Remarks

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Selena Gomez
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Harry Styles
  • Kourtney Kardashian
ALL CELEBRITY BIOS
  • chris brown royalty brown

    Chris Brown Shows Off His Stunning Daughter Royalty, 5, In Sweet New Pic: She’s ‘My Joy’

  • Cassie Gives Birth To First Child With Husband Alex Fine — Report

  • Juice Wrld: Rapper Allegedly Took Several ‘Unknown Pills’ Before Fatal Seizure

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Beauty Features
  • Skincare
  • Makeover
  • Fitness
  • Diet
ALL BEAUTY
  • Kendall Jenner

    High Ponytails: Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid & 16 Stars Rocking The Sleek Holiday Hairstyle – Pics

  • Kaia Gerber’s Hair Makeover: Model Chops Off Locks Into Her Shortest Bob Yet – Before & After Pics

  • Beyonce Stuns In Plunging Bodysuit & Waist-Length Braids For Flawless ‘Elle’ Cover – Pics

  • Red Carpet
  • Weddings
  • Who Wore it Better?
  • Fashion Features
ALL FASHION
  • kelly ripa lola consuelos

    Kelly Ripa, 49, & Gorgeous Daughter Lola, 18, Rock Mini Dresses In Rare Red Carpet Appearance

  • Miss Universe Evening Gowns 2019: See The Gorgeous Contestants’ Most Stunning Looks

  • Miss Universe: Olivia Culpo Channels Disney’s Princess Belle In Gorgeous Yellow Ruffled Gown

  • Share This Article
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Print
  • Talk
Next Up

Michelle Pfeiffer, 60, Shares 1st Pic Of Herself As Queen Ingrith From Angelina Jolie’s ‘Maleficent 2’

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
  • Search Close

Trending

  • Bonnie Says
  • Celeb Babies
  • TV
  • Celeb Galleries
  • Miss Universe
  • Kaia
Search

NewsExpand Menu

  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Opinions

EntertainmentExpand Menu

  • Entertainment Features
  • TV
  • Award Shows
  • At The Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Podcast
  • Quiz

Portrait SeriesExpand Menu

    BeautyExpand Menu

    • Fragrance
    • Hair Care
    • Health
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Skincare
    • Beauty Features
    • Fitness
    • Diet

    FashionExpand Menu

    • Red Carpet
    • Weddings
    • Who Wore it Better?
    • Fashion Features

    TrendingExpand Menu

    • Bonnie Says
    • TV
    • Celeb Galleries
    • Miss Universe
    • Kaia

    About UsExpand Menu

    • About Us
    • Writer Bios
    • Scoops, Tips & Corrections
    • Subscribe To Newsletter
    • Contact Us

    Celebrity ProfilesExpand Menu

    • Kim Kardashian
    • Kylie Jenner
    • Justin Bieber
    • Selena Gomez
    • Taylor Swift
    • Rihanna
    • Kendall Jenner
    • Miley Cyrus
    • Gigi Hadid
    • Jennifer Lopez
    • Angelina Jolie
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Newsletters
    Alerts & Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • Scoops & Corrections
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your CA Privacy Rights
    • Ad Choices
    • Data Policy
    © 2019 Penske Media Corporation
    • News
    • Politics
    • Stacey Dash
    Exclusive Interview
    January 29, 2019 6:57PM EST
    Hollywood Life

    Aja Brown: Compton Mayor Explains Why She Felt Compelled To Run Against Stacey Dash For Congress

    Aja Brown Compton Mayor Stacey Dash
    Courtesy of Michael Buckner for SheMedia
    Alyssa Milano
    Jaime King
    Zuri Hall
    Jameela Jamil View Gallery View Gallery 7 Photos.
    Marissa Charles
    News Director / Senior Editor
    • Share This Article
    • Reddit
    • LinkedIn
    • WhatsApp
    • Email
    • Print
    • Talk

    Aja Brown is a voice to be reckoned with. On the night she won BlogHer’s Leadership Award the Mayor of Compton, who is just 36, spoke to HL about politics, Kamala Harris and facing off ‘Clueless’ star Stacey Dash in 2018.

    Ever since she became the youngest person elected Mayor of Compton in 2013, California-native Aja Brown has been making a name for herself – and it’s not just because of her age (she was 31 at the time and is 36 now). It’s her belief in civic duty and her commitment to her hometown, which includes spearheading drives like her 90-Day Community Fitness Challenge. In 2018 Mayor Brown made headlines for another reason. She threw her hat into the midterms ring and decided to run for Congress. In this EXCLUSIVE interview with HollywoodLife she said it was partly because of Clueless actress Stacey Dash.

    The conservative former Fox News commentator (and ardent Trump supporter) had decided to run as a representative for California’s 44th district, which includes Compton, Watts and North Long Beach. Soon the pressure was on for Mayor Brown to challenge Dash. “My decision to run was really a response to other people who felt bad with a certain person entering the race, a Republican candidate,” Mayor Brown told us, initially refusing to mention the actress by name. “[There] could be too much uncertainty, and we wouldn’t necessarily guarantee the outcome to be a Democratic leader. So I was going to serve at the time, where it was necessary. I think that was the motivation for people to reach out, recognizing that we can’t leave it up to chance.” Mayor Brown added, “So with 2018 being such an important year for the House, it was really important to retain a Democratic seat in this area. My motivation was really a protection response, to protect my community. I recognize it’s really important to work with your Congress person, to have people in Washington working on our behalf for everyday people.” (In the end neither woman ran, but more on that later.)

    Stepping up to protect her community is just something that Mayor Brown does. HollywoodLife spoke to her on Jan. 24, the night that she received a Leadership Award at the BlogHer Health event in Los Angeles. Who else would you give the honor to than a woman who was so committed to her hometown that she decided to run for mayor to focus on regenerating a community that unfortunately – rightly or wrongly – is as synonymous with gangs, drug dealing and poverty, as it is for success stories like Venus and Serena Williams and Kendrick Lamar? “I was discontent with the condition of my community,” she said about her decision to run for the office. She reached out to other people “and encouraged them to run” and they turned the tables on her and asked the same question. “So I looked at myself, and I said, ‘Well if it’s not me, then who?’” she told us.

    Courtesy of Michael Buckner for SheMedia
    Aja Brown Compton Mayor Stacey Dash
    Stacey Dash announced she was going to run for a Congressional seat in the 2018 midterms before pulling out of the race. (REX/Shutterstock)

    That’s the message that Mayor Brown has for other young people and women in particular. She’s thrilled by the wave of females who ran for and won seats in the House in the midterms. She’s especially pleased that several women have decided to seek the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential race. While Mayor Brown won’t endorse any candidate just yet – be that Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tulsi Gabbard or the many others – we asked her about Kamala Harris’s decision to run. The California senator announced her 2020 bid on Jan. 19.

    “I’m excited, actually,” Mayor Brown said. “I’ve met Kamala Harris, I think she’s done a tremendous job [in the Senate], and I think that she’s been a great leader, a ferocious advocate for common people, and I think that we’ll continue to see that at the national level in this presidential race. I’m looking forward to hearing more about what her ideas are to make our union more perfect, and better for everyone.”

    As for the mayor, what about a future Congressional run? In the end both Dash and Brown pulled out of the 2018 race. The mayor had a very good reason. In April she found out that she was pregnant. On Sept. 23 she and her husband Van Brown welcomed their first child, daughter J’ael, into the world. Does she see Washington D.C. in her future? “I still think that there’s a lot of work that I can do in my community,” she told us, adding later, “I’m focusing on developing leaders right now so that in the future, when I decide to run into another role, whatever that may be, my community’s at least taken care of.” It looks like, for now, D.C. will have to wait.

    Click to Subscribe to Our HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get more celeb news.
    • Share This Article
    • Reddit
    • LinkedIn
    • WhatsApp
    • Email
    • Print
    • Talk
    Sensitive Stacey Dash

    More Related News:

    • Jameela Jamil Claps Back At Body Shamers After Slamming Diet Teas: They ‘Make You Hate Yourself’
    • BlogHer 2019 Health Summit -- All The Best Pics & Fashion From The Major Event
    • Diane Warren Teams Up With Compton Kidz Club For 'I'll Fight' Cover In Honor Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

    Most Read

    Cindy Crawford’s Feelings On Daughter Kaia Gerber & Pete Davidson’s Romance Finally Revealed

    'RHONJ's Teresa Giudice & Danielle Staub: The Dramatic Fight That Ended Their Friendship Revealed

    Ariel Winter Goes Makeup-Free In See-Through White T-Shirt & Short Shorts

    Gabrielle Union Shares Sweet Christmas Photos With Daughter Kaavia, 1, & Stepson Zion, 12

    Gabrielle Union & Kaavia Wade

    Jennifer Lopez Gets Caught 'Flirting' With Pete Davidson When A-Rod Barges In On ‘SNL’

    Have news, pics or video on a breaking news story?

    Send us your Tip

    More From Our Brands

    • Kate Hudson's Daughter Rani Rose Is a Total Girly Girl — And Her First Word Proves It!
      SheKnows

      Kate Hudson's Daughter Rani Rose Is a Total Girly Girl — And Her First Word Proves It!

      4 hours ago
    • Kim Kardashian Wants Kourtney Fired From KUWTK & Her Reason Why Is So Harsh
      StyleCaster

      Kim Kardashian Wants Kourtney Fired From KUWTK & Her Reason Why Is So Harsh

      5 hours ago
    • The Ranch Gets Part 8 Premiere Date; Final 10 Episodes Drop in January
      TVLine

      The Ranch Gets Part 8 Premiere Date; Final 10 Episodes Drop in January

      3 hours ago
    • Bruce Springsteen Crashes a Stone Pony Soundcheck to Dance With His Wife, Patti Scialfa
      Rolling Stone

      Bruce Springsteen Crashes a Stone Pony Soundcheck to Dance With His Wife, Patti Scialfa

      4 hours ago
    • ‘The Lion King’ Roars Into Surprise Animation Awards Contention–Despite Disney’s Best Efforts
      IndieWire

      ‘The Lion King’ Roars Into Surprise Animation Awards Contention–Despite Disney’s Best Efforts

      5 hours ago

      HollywoodLife

      • About Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Careers
      • Scoops & Corrections
      • Contact Us

      Legal

      • Privacy Policy
      • Your CA Privacy Rights
      • Ad Choices
      • Privacy Preferences
      • Terms of Use
      • Data Policy

      News

      • Celebrity News
      • World News
      • Exclusives
      • Celebrity Babies

      Connect

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
    SheKnows Media - Entertainment
    © Copyright 2019 HollywoodLife, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.
    Powered by WordPress.com VIP
    ad