Honorable Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, former California State Senator and Los Angeles City Councilman, has passed away May 7 at the age of 95, according to his family.
Active for decades in Democratic politics, Holden served more than 30 years in the public and government sector. His service began as assistant chief deputy to County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and continued for the next 16 years representing the 10th District on the L.A. City Council. In 1974, he was elected as state senator where he served until 1978.
After retiring from public office, Holden became a consultant based in Los Angeles, specializing in government affairs. He was a member of the National Contract Management Association, NAACP, Urban League, United States Commission on Government Procurement and Crenshaw Neighbors.
Holden made national headlines last year when then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump confused him with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. During a press conference, Trump said he shared a helicopter ride with Brown and Brown degraded Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Brown vehemently denied being in a helicopter or talking bad about Harris.
Holden also saw the press conference and told Politico he was on the copter and Trump repeatedly confused him with Brown. Holden said he told Trump, “Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco. I’m a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles.” Holden added, “I guess we all look alike.”
But Holden made memorable impressions throughout his public service career because he always focused on meeting the needs of the community. In an interview with the L.A. Sentinel in 2024, he said, “When I got elected, I wanted to make sure that they understood that they put me in office to be responsible for them, to serve them to the best of my ability, and that I had an open-door policy. And they were always welcome to come and also to call my office and they would always get a positive response.”
Reflecting on Holden’s legacy, his son, former Pasadena mayor and Assemblymember Christopher Holden, shared, “My dad was one of a kind, who was dedicated to fight dysfunctional systems that hindered progress for the marginalized.
“His motto was, ‘It doesn’t matter where you served, but how you serve.’ He was larger than life and lived it to the fullest.”
As a City Councilman, Holden’s initiatives to benefit his constituents include introducing a publicly funded program that reduced illegal firearms in Los Angeles through a unique buyback effort in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department. Also, he was the driving force behind the rebuilding of the Crenshaw area following the Los Angeles riots in 1992.
“Nate Holden leaves behind a legacy of service and strength,” L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement in The Daily Breeze.
“Throughout his life, he put the South Los Angeles community front and center. As an organizer, I learned from the way he served — always working to ensure vital services were delivered directly to the residents he represented. For decades, he was a trusted advisor.”
“Nate Holden was a legend here in Los Angeles,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn in a statement to the L.A. Times.
“He was a lion in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council. I learned a lot sitting next to him in the chambers as a new Councilmember,” she added. Holden worked as an aide to Hahn’s father, Kenneth.
Former City Council President Herb Wesson, who served as Holden’s chief of staff during his first term, shared similar comments with the L.A. Times. Describing Holden as “a fighter,” Wesson stated, “If I was ever in a bar fight, I would sure hope that Nate Holden was on the bar stool next to me.”
During Holden’s tenure as State Senator, he authored and co-authored more than 70 bills that became law. His legislative accomplishments included measures that addressed the genetically handicapped, anti-redlining on home mortgages, the Credit Denial Disclosure Act of 1976, increased funding for inner city schools, the creation of Baldwin Hills Regional Park, proliferation and control of liquor stores and property tax relief for senior citizens.
Before entering politics, Holden spent 17 years as a design engineer in the aerospace industry where he was assigned to a range of projects including the Surveyor Lunar Landing spacecraft mission. He also worked for Bell Laboratories, Hycon Corp., Litton Industries, Electro Optical Systems, GM Giannini and Hughes Aircraft.
A native of Macon, Georgia, Holden was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. While serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Holden was a member of the Military Police Corps and served in Germany and Italy.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Applied Physics and Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from West Coast University in Los Angeles. Also, he received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Southwestern University School of Law and Pacific State University.
IN addition to Chris Holden, his survivors include his son, Reginald, a former L.A. County Deputy Sheriff, and several grandchildren.
Information about funeral services is still pending.
