Tony West (attorney)

West was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Margaret "Peggy" (née Reddick) and Franklin Delano West (1940–2013).[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=franklin-west&pid=165070479 Franlin West Obituary] accessed 11/15/2020{{cite web | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tony-west/gIQAthay9O_topic.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402172032/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tony-west/gIQAthay9O_topic.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | title =Tony West Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice (since April 2009) | work =washingtonpost.com | date =May 25, 2013}}{{cite web | url =http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da144ef2b&wit_id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da144ef2b-1-3 | title =Testimony of Tony West | author =United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary | author-link =United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary | publisher =judiciary.senate.gov | date =March 10, 2009 | access-date =May 26, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121216094543/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da144ef2b&wit_id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da144ef2b-1-3 | archive-date =December 16, 2012 | url-status =dead }} West was raised in San Jose, California, where he lived with his two younger sisters, Pamela and Patricia.{{cite web | url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/asg/speeches/2013/asg-speech-130523.html | title =Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary | author =United States Department of Justice | author-link =United States Department of Justice | publisher =justice.gov | date =May 23, 2013}} His father, the first person in his family to attend college, was born and raised in Georgia and worked for IBM while his mother, who was a teacher, was born and raised in Alabama.{{cite web | url=http://www.hcca-info.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Resources/Compliance%20Today/0411/ct0411_14_MeetTonyWest.pdf | title =Meet Tony West Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice | author-link =Health Care Compliance Association | publisher =hcca-info.org | date =April 2011}} He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory, a Catholic, all-male, private secondary school, where he served as freshman class president, before graduating in 1983.{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-10/s-p-prosecutor-s-stalled-nomination-is-bump-in-fast-track-career.html | title =S&P Prosecutor's Stalled Nomination Is Bump in Fast-Track Career | author =Phil Mattingly | publisher =bloomberg.com | date =April 9, 2013}}

West earned his Bachelor of Arts in government from Harvard College in 1987, where he served as publisher of the Harvard Political Review.{{cite web | url=http://media.wayne.edu/2012/02/23/wayne-law-to-host-talk-by-us | title =Wayne Law to host talk by U.S. Assistant Attorney General Tony West March 8 | author =Wayne State University | author-link =Wayne State University | publisher =media.wayne.edu | date =February 23, 2013}} In 1988, West began volunteering and working on political campaigns, engaging in Democratic political causes, such as working as the chief of staff to the Boston, Massachusetts treasurer of Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign.{{cite web | url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/113thCongressExecutiveNominations/upload/Tony-West-SJC-Questionnaire.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053637/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/113thCongressExecutiveNominations/upload/Tony-West-SJC-Questionnaire.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | title =United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Questionnaire for Non-judicial Nominees | author =United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary | author-link =United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary | publisher =judiciary.senate.gov | date =November 16, 2012}} West also served as a finance director to the Democratic Governors Association, until 1989. He earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1992, where he served as the president of the Stanford Law Review.{{cite web|url=http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-hails-senate-confirmation-of-west-to-no-3-position-at-doj |title=Press Release | Press Releases | Press | U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont |website=Leahy.senate.gov |access-date=2017-07-07}} While attending Stanford, he worked as a summer intern for Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman in 1990. He also worked as a summer intern for Tuttle & Taylor, and Morrison & Foerster in 1991.

After graduating, West continued his work in Democratic politics, working as chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party, while also working in private practice as an associate at the Bingham McCutchen San Jose office, from 1992 to 1993. In 1993, he was admitted to the State Bar of California, and was admitted to the Superior Court of California and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

From 1999 to 2001, he was a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General, under Bill Lockyer.{{cite web | url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/asg/speeches/2013/asg-speech-1302251.html | title =Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the National Association of Attorneys General Winter/Spring Meeting | author =United States Department of Justice | author-link =United States Department of Justice | publisher =justice.gov | date =February 25, 2013}} From 2001 to 2009, he was a litigation partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco.{{cite web|url=http://www.mainjustice.com/2012/09/20/obama-nominates-tony-west-to-fill-no-3-doj-post-full-time/|title=Obama Nominates Tony West to Fill No. 3 DOJ Post Full-Time|work=Main Justice|access-date=2013-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626110458/http://www.mainjustice.com/2012/09/20/obama-nominates-tony-west-to-fill-no-3-doj-post-full-time/|archive-date=2015-06-26|url-status=dead}} He also served as the California co-chairman of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Justice Dept. lawyer Tony West to take over as acting associate attorney general|author=Sari Horwitz|date=27 February 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110085154/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-02-27/politics/35442407_1_civil-division-civil-rights-associate-attorney|archive-date=10 November 2013}}

West serves on the Board of Directors for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.{{Cite web|title=NAACP LDF Board of Directors {{!}} NAACP Legal Defense & Education fund|url=https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/board-of-directors/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund|language=en-US}}

West began his career at the Justice Department when he joined the Clinton administration in 1993, as a Special Assistant under Philip Heymann, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice,{{cite web | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html?noredirect=on | title =Justice Dept. lawyer Tony West to take over as acting associate attorney general | author =Sari Horowitz | work =washingtonpost.com | date =February 27, 2012 | url-status =live | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131110085154/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-02-27/politics/35442407_1_civil-division-civil-rights-associate-attorney | archive-date =November 10, 2013 }} until 1994, when he was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Northern District of California.{{cite web | url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2009-04-20/html/CREC-2009-04-20-pt1-PgS4426.htm | title =NOMINATIONS OF TONY WEST TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL; LANNY A. BREUER TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL; CHRISTINE ANNE VARNEY TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL | author =United States Government Printing Office | author-link =United States Government Printing Office | publisher =gpo.gov | date =April 20, 2009}} As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, West prosecuted child sexual exploitation, fraud, narcotics distribution, interstate theft, and high tech crime.{{cite web | url =http://apps.americanbar.org/antitrust/consumer2011/docs/bios/West.pdf | title =TONY WEST | author =American Bar Association | author-link =American Bar Association | publisher =americanbar.org | date =May 26, 2012 | access-date =May 26, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150626150629/http://apps.americanbar.org/antitrust/consumer2011/docs/bios/West.pdf | archive-date =June 26, 2015 | url-status =dead }}

In 2009, West returned to the Justice Department when President Obama nominated him to serve as Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Civil Division.White House, [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-barack-obama-announces-key-doj-appointees "President Barack Obama Announces Key DOJ Appointees"] (Jan. 22, 2009). West led the Obama Administration's review of the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which ultimately resulted in President Obama's and Attorney General Holder's decision to stop defending DOMA.Jonathan Capehart, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/09/04/tony-west-straight-hero-in-fight-for-gay-marriage-to-leave-justice-department/ "Tony West, straight hero in fight for gay marriage, to leave Justice Department,"], The Washington Post, (September 4, 2014)[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/barack-obama-eric-holder-defense-of-marriage-act-gay-rights-105794.html#ixzz3eBO8KL9z "Book: How Barack Obama, Eric Holder agreed on DOMA plan,"] Politico (Apr. 18, 2014)Adam Liptak, [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=span-ab-top-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news "Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules, 5–4,"], The New York Times, (June 26, 2015) During his tenure at the helm of the Civil Division, the Division recovered more than $8.8 billion in taxpayer money under the False Claims Act.[http://www.law360.com/articles/313856/holder-taps-tony-west-for-doj-s-no-3-spot "Holder Taps Tony West For DOJ's No. 3 Spot,"] Law360 (February 27, 2012). On the consumer protection front, West oversaw cases that resulted in more than 115 criminal convictions, as well as recoveries of more than $3.5 billion, during his three-year tenure.Id.

File:Tony West speaking.jpg

Beginning on March 9, 2012, West served as the Acting Associate Attorney General until the U.S. Senate confirmed West to be Associate Attorney General in a 98-1 vote on July 25, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00186|title=U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote|date=27 January 2015|work=senate.gov}}{{cite web|date=2013-07-25|title=Attorney General Eric Holder Welcomes the Confirmation of Tony West as the Associate Attorney General of the United States | OPA | Department of Justice|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-eric-holder-welcomes-confirmation-tony-west-associate-attorney-general|access-date=2017-07-07|website=Justice.gov}} In September 2014, when Attorney General Eric Holder announced his intention to step down, West was speculated as being a potential successor as the next United States Attorney General.{{cite web|date=2014-09-25|title=Five candidates to replace Holder|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/218932-five-candidates-to-replace-holder/|access-date=2017-07-07|publisher=TheHill}}{{cite magazine|title=Eric Holder: Barack Obama Mulls Replacements for Attorney General|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/3431436/eric-holder-attorney-general-resign/|access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite news|last=Kane|first=Paul|date=2014-09-25|title=Attorney general confirmation process is fractious even before it's begun|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/attorney-general-confirmation-process-is-fractious-even-before-its-begun/2014/09/25/48a630c0-44dc-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html|access-date=2017-07-07}}

As Associate Attorney General, West led the department's efforts against financial institutions in connection with their roles in precipitating the Great Recession.{{cite news|last=Protess |first=Ben |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/tony-west-who-pressed-banks-on-settlements-is-leaving-justice-dept/ |title=Tony West, Top Nemesis of Big Banks, Is Leaving Justice Department |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2014-09-03 |access-date=2017-07-07}} These include two of the largest civil resolutions against a single entity in American history: Bank of America ($16.65 billion) and JPMorgan ($13 billion).Id. In total, the department's efforts recovered nearly $37 billion.{{cite news|url=https://next.ft.com/content/4391793a-339f-11e4-ba62-00144feabdc0 |title=Tony West quits as top DoJ official |newspaper=Financial Times |date=3 September 2014 |access-date=2017-07-07}} {{subscription required|date=July 2017}}

Additionally, West led the department's investigation and filing of a civil lawsuit against the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Rating Services for allegedly engaging in a scheme to defraud investors in structured financial products, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars by investors, many of whom are federally-insured financial institutions.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/acting-associate-attorney-general-tony-west-speaks-press-conference-announcing-lawsuit |title=Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Press Conference Announcing Lawsuit Against S&P | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2013-02-05 |access-date=2017-07-07}} The investigation and lawsuit involved collaboration with several state attorneys general offices, a number of which also filed civil fraud lawsuits against S&P alleging similar misconduct in the rating of structured financial products.

West also oversaw constitutional policing enforcement actions by the Civil Rights Division and led the department's negotiations with Puerto Rico to reach a historic agreement that requires the Commonwealth's police department to implement and sustain a wide range of constitutional policies and procedures, including those that address use of force, equal protection and non-discrimination, and community engagement.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-enters-far-reaching-agreement-commonwealth-puerto-rico-reform-puerto-rico |title=Justice Department Enters into Far-reaching Agreement with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to Reform the Puerto Rico Police Department | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2013-07-17 |access-date=2017-07-07}}

West also led the department's commitment to supporting the provision of indigent legal defense.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/acting-associate-attorney-general-tony-west-delivers-remarks-american-constitution |title=Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Delivers Remarks at the American Constitution Society Annual Convention | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2013-06-14 |access-date=2017-07-07}} In June 2014, West represented the United States at the U.N.'s International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice Systems in South Africa.{{cite web|url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2014/06/20140627302945.html#axzz4AOp0h8fF |title=IIP Publications |website=Iipdigital.usembassy.gov |date=2017-01-20 |access-date=2017-07-07}} In 2013, West oversaw the department's filing of a statement of interest in Wilbur v. City of Mount Vernon (WD Wash.), a class action lawsuit alleging that accused defendants were systemically denied effective assistance of counsel. Without taking a position on the merits of the case, the filing requested that if the court found constitutional violations, it consider workload controls for public defenders and appointment of an independent monitor to ensure compliance.{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/file/65011/download |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527012427/https://www.justice.gov/file/65011/download |archive-date=2017-05-27 }} The plaintiffs in the case prevailed on the merits and the court required defendants to hire a part-time public defender supervisor to monitor and report the defendants' delivery of indigent defense representation.{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/news/federal-court-finds-public-defense-system-violates-constitutional-rights-indigent-defendants |title=Federal Court Finds Public Defense System Violates Constitutional Rights of Indigent Defendants | American Civil Liberties Union |website=Aclu.org |date=2013-12-05 |access-date=2017-07-07}}

During West's tenure as Associate Attorney General, the Justice Department secured passage of tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, allowing tribal courts to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators of domestic violence in Indian country.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/associate-attorney-general-tony-west-delivers-remarks-national-indian-child-welfare |title=Associate Attorney General Tony West Delivers Remarks at the National Indian Child Welfare Association's Thirty-second Annual Protecting Our Children Conference | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2014-04-14 |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/causes/native-american-women-finally-gain-more-protection-from-rape-and-abuse-thanks-to-vawa.html |title=Native American Women Finally Gain More Protection From Rape And Abuse Thanks To VAWA | Care2 Causes |website=Care2.com |date=2014-02-10 |access-date=2017-07-07}} West oversaw a consultation with tribes to implement the Pilot Project, which allowed tribes to exercise the special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians ahead of the law's March 2015 effective date.{{cite news|last=Horwitz |first=Sari |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/3-tribes-authorized-to-prosecute-non-native-american-men-in-domestic-violence-cases/2014/02/06/27bc1044-8f58-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html |title=3 tribes authorized to prosecute non-Native American men in domestic violence cases |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-02-06 |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-three-tribes-implement-special-domestic-violence-criminal |title=Justice Department Announces Three Tribes to ImplementSpecial Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Under VAWA 2013 | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2014-02-06 |access-date=2017-07-07}} West authorized three tribes – the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation – to become the first tribes in the country to exercise the new jurisdiction. West also oversaw the creation and work of the Attorney General's Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence, which included an Advisory Committee—chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan—of non-federal experts and an interagency Federal Working Group of high-level federal officials.{{cite web|url=http://www.ojjdp.gov/newsletter/246825/sf_3.html |title=OJJDP News @ a Glance - May/June 2014 |website=Ojjdp.gov |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/associate-attorney-general-tony-west-delivers-remarks-american-indian-alaskan-native |title=Associate Attorney General Tony West Delivers Remarks at the American Indian / Alaskan Native Children Exposed to Violence Hearing | OPA | Department of Justice |website=Justice.gov |date=2013-12-09 |access-date=2017-07-07}}

• National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=12815172896965834886&q=National+Federation+of+Independent+Business+v.+Sebelius&hl=en&as_sdt=6,48 132 S.Ct. 2566 (2012), 567 U.S. 519] (as Assistant Attorney General, one of several attorneys for Respondents)
• Ashcroft v. Al-Kidd, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7219970976227790018 131 S.Ct. 2074 (2011), 563 U.S. 731]. (as Assistant Attorney General, one of several attorneys for the Petitioner.)
• Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6019616206791654633 130 S.Ct. 3138 (2010), 561 U.S. 477] (as Assistant Attorney General, one of several attorneys for the Respondent)

On October 7, 2014, PepsiCo, Inc. announced that West had joined the company as executive vice president of government affairs, general counsel, and corporate secretary, effective November 24, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pepsico-names-tony-west-executive-vice-president-government-affairs-general-counsel-and-corporate-secretary-278343281.html|title=PepsiCo Names Tony West Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, General Counsel and... |date=7 October 2014|website=Prnewswire.com}} West succeeded Larry Thompson, who retired after a decade with the company. West was responsible for PepsiCo's worldwide legal function and government affairs organization, as well as the company's global compliance function and the PepsiCo Foundation. He reported to PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi.

In October 2017, West announced that he was leaving PepsiCo to take a position as General Counsel at Uber. This announcement shortly followed the completion of an investigation by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder into allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at Uber.{{Cite web|title=Uber reveals extent of sexual assault problem: thousands of abuse reports a year|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uber-reveals-widespread-sexual-assault-problem-including-hundreds-reports-rape-n1096411|access-date=2020-06-25|website=NBC News|date=5 December 2019 |language=en}}

In 2020, the first year in which West was named as an executive officer at Uber, he received nearly $12.3 million in total compensation.{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Brian |date=2021-03-16 |title=Vice President Harris' Brother-in-Law Joins Top-Paid Uber Execs |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/harris-brother-in-law-becomes-one-of-ubers-top-paid-executives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728094457/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/harris-brother-in-law-becomes-one-of-ubers-top-paid-executives |archive-date=2024-07-28 |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=Bloomberg Law}} In 2021, West received $7.4 million in compensation from Uber, and in 2022 West received a pay package worth more than $10.6 million, an increase of 40% over the previous year.{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Brian |date=2023-03-29 |title=Uber's Top Lawyer Gets 40% Pay Boost Amid Legal Victories |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/ubers-top-lawyer-gets-40-pay-boost-amid-legal-victories |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912205819/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/ubers-top-lawyer-gets-40-pay-boost-amid-legal-victories |archive-date=2024-09-12 |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=Bloomberg Law}} In 2023, West received almost $10.4 million in compensation from Uber.{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Brian |date=2024-03-18 |title=Uber's Top Lawyer Gets $10 Million in Pay After Profitable Year |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/ubers-top-lawyer-gets-10-million-in-pay-after-profitable-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814045908/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/ubers-top-lawyer-gets-10-million-in-pay-after-profitable-year |archive-date=2024-08-14 |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=Bloomberg Law}}

File:Kamala Harris and her family walk to the White House, January 2021.jpg

In 1998, West ran for a seat on the San Jose City Council.{{cite web | url=http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_23284610/herhold-whatever-happened-zuckerberg-mt-umunhum-and-golden | title =Herhold: Whatever happened to Zuckerberg, Mt. Umunhum and the Golden Spigot? | author =Scott Herhold | work =mercurynews.com | date =May 21, 2013}} In the primary, West's main challenger was Cindy Chavez, the staff director of Working Partnerships USA. He came in second to Chavez in the June 2 primary, with 41.2% of the vote.{{cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/1998jun/ca/scl/city.html | title =Member, City Council; City of San Jose, Municipal Election; District 3 | publisher =smartvoter.org | date =June 2, 1998}} West was ultimately defeated, receiving 48% of the vote in the general election.{{cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/1998nov/ca/scl/city.html | title =City Offices for Santa Clara County, CA | publisher =smartvoter.org | date =November 3, 1998}}

West also ran for the California State Assembly, for the 23rd district, in 2000. After incumbent Mike Honda ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving a vacancy, West was one of six Democrats to run for the open seat. He was defeated in the primary by San Jose City Councilman Manny Diaz, receiving 38% of the total votes cast.{{cite web | url =http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000-primary/sov-complete.pdf | title =Member of the State Assembly (by county within district) | author =Secretary of State of California | author-link =Secretary of State of California | publisher =sos.ca.gov | date =February 7, 2000 | access-date =May 26, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131113055742/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000-primary/sov-complete.pdf | archive-date =November 13, 2013 | url-status =dead }}

West chaired the Barack Obama California fundraising committee for his run in 2008.{{cite web | url =https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tony-west-life-career-uber-maya-harris-kamala-harris-2020-11-1029826860#west-attended-harvard-university-and-stanford-law-school-where-he-was-president-of-the-stanford-law-review-only-the-third-african-american-person-to-hold-the-position-2 | title =The life and career of Tony West, the Uber executive married to Kamala Harris' sister, and who may be in the running for a role in the Biden administration | author =Avery Hartmans | publisher = Insider Inc. and finanzen.net GmbH (Imprint) | date =21 November 2020 | access-date =3 August 2024}}

On November 30, 2016, Senator-elect Kamala Harris announced that West, her brother-in-law, would co-chair her transition team.{{cite web|last=Cockerhamscockerham |first=Sean |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article117988773.html |title=Sen.-elect Kamala Harris picks top deputy in California Attorney General's office as her chief of staff | McClatchy Washington Bureau |website=Mcclatchydc.com |date=2016-11-30 |access-date=2017-07-07}}

West served as an adviser for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.{{Cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Alex |last2=Nichols |first2=Hans |date=2024-08-01 |title=Scoop: Kamala Harris' brother-in-law emerges as key campaign adviser |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/08/01/kamala-harris-tony-west-president-campaign |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=Axios}} West played a large role in steering the campaign's messaging away from criticism of corporate power and towards a more business-friendly approach.{{Cite news |last=Sammon |first=Alexander |date=2024-11-11 |title=The Crass but Winning Political Tactic That Kamala Harris Missed |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/donald-trump-win-presidential-election-kamala-harris-economy.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}{{Cite news |last=Shahid |first=Waleed |date=2024-11-18 |title=The Left Didn't Sink Kamala Harris. Here's What Did. |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/corporate-democrats-not-woke-activists-doomed-kamala-harris/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |work=The Nation |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=David |date=2024-11-18 |title=The Corporate Consultants Behind Harris for President |url=https://readsludge.com/2024/11/18/the-corporate-consultants-behind-harris-for-president/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Sludge |language=en}}

West married Maya Harris, the sister of former Vice President Kamala Harris, in July 1998. He is the stepfather to her daughter, Meena Harris, who Maya Harris had as a single parent.{{cite web|last=Ruggiero |first=Anthony |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/20/playbook-juice-june-20-239744 |title=Tuesday's Juice |publisher=Politico |date=2017-06-20 |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/06/03/maya-harris-hillary-clinton/|title=Maya Harris: senior policy adviser to Hillary Clinton - Fortune|work=Fortune}} They were both in the class of 1992 at Stanford Law School.{{cite news|last=Driscoll|first=Sharon|title=Tony and Maya: Partners in Public Service|url=https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-lawyer/articles/tony-and-maya-partners-in-public-service/|newspaper=Stanford Lawyer|date=May 17, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2020}} They became friends at school, but did not begin a relationship until after graduation.{{cite news|last1=Horwitz|first1=Sari|title=Justice Dept. lawyer Tony West to take over as acting associate attorney general|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html|access-date=March 11, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 27, 2012}}

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• [https://www.justice.gov/asg/meet-aag.html Biography Page on Department of Justice Website]
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