Bill Simon (politician)
William Edward Simon Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1951 Neptune, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, businessman, banker, political figure |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | 2002 California gubernatorial candidate; Director of Policy for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign |
William Edward Simon Jr. (born June 20, 1951) is an American attorney, businessman, banker, and political figure. In the 2002 Republican primary, Simon, then a political novice, achieved a surprising victory and ran for Governor of California against the sitting Democrat Gray Davis. His conservative platform attracted considerable backing from influential Republicans outside California, including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, under whom Simon briefly worked as an Assistant United States Attorney, as well as President George W. Bush.
Background
Simon was born in Neptune, New Jersey, to Carol (Girard) and William E. Simon Sr., who served as the 63rd Secretary of the Treasury during the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Simon Sr. also headed the Federal Energy Office. Raised in Florham Park, New Jersey, Simon was childhood acquaintances with former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.
He obtained a BA degree from Williams College in 1973 and later earned a JD from Boston College in 1982. While at Boston College Law School, Simon distinguished himself as a Moot Court Champion, competing on a national level. Between 1985 and 1988, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York under Rudy Giuliani, primarily handling civil litigation with occasional criminal cases. His 2002 campaign highlighted his participation in the Mafia Commission Trial during this tenure; however, subsequent reviews questioned the depth of his involvement.
In 1988, together with his father and brother, Simon co-established William E. Simon & Sons, a global merchant banking firm managing assets exceeding $3 billion. He balanced leadership of the family enterprise with his role as Assistant U.S. Attorney and trustee for The Heritage Foundation. As chairman of the William E. Simon Foundation, he moved to Los Angeles in 1990 to oversee the bank’s local operations. Simon has personally funded educational scholarships and initiatives aimed at enhancing California schools’ environments and supports charitable organizations such as Covenant House, continuing his family’s tradition of philanthropy.
Primary
In March 2002, Simon clinched the Republican nomination in what CNN termed "a stunning upset." Analysts attribute his success partly to incumbent Governor Gray Davis focusing attacks on Simon’s chief competitor, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, a moderate Republican who initially enjoyed greater name recognition. Riordan’s early criticisms of Davis provoked retaliatory responses that weakened Riordan’s campaign.
Simon’s triumph reflected Republican dissatisfaction with Riordan’s disconnect from conservative voters—Riordan had offended popular Republican Governor George Deukmejian and financially supported Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein—while Simon presented himself as a staunch conservative alternative. Both candidates were Roman Catholic Knights of Malta; however, Riordan held pro-choice views whereas Simon was pro-life.
Simon garnered 1,129,973 votes (49.4%) in the primary compared to Riordan’s 715,768 (31.3%), with former California Secretary of State Bill Jones receiving 16.9%.
General
Davis’s campaign highlighted alleged mismanagement within Simon’s enterprises and charitable organizations, although major judicial decisions against Simon were subsequently reversed.
Simon concentrated on allegations of corruption against Davis and criticized his management of the 2001 energy crisis in California. Following a debate, Simon asserted that Davis had accepted illicit campaign contributions while serving as Lieutenant Governor, distributing a photograph as proof; however, the image was quickly debunked and found to have been taken at Bruce Karatz's residence.
Despite facing significant disapproval ratings, Davis secured victory with 47.3% of the vote compared to Simon’s 42.4%.
After gubernatorial campaign
After the 2003 California recall election for governor, Simon briefly re-entered the contest but withdrew on August 23, 2003, citing an overcrowded Republican field and reservations about perpetuating Gray Davis’s legacy. Subsequently, he endorsed the leading candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even though he withdrew, Simon ranked 12th among 135 candidates listed on the ballot.
Simon planned a bid for California state treasurer in 2006 and was considered the frontrunner among Republicans but stepped aside in October 2005 to prioritize family responsibilities.
In 2010, Simon joined UCLA as an adjunct professor specializing in economics.
Giuliani campaign
On February 26, 2007, Simon was named Director of Policy for Rudy Giuliani’s presidential exploratory committee. Serving as a principal strategist—often referred to as Giuliani's "Professor"—Simon played a crucial role during the campaign, which concluded prematurely with Giuliani’s withdrawal from the race.
Personal life
Simon has one daughter from his first marriage and three children with his second wife, Cindy. The family lives in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and narrowly avoided losing their home during the 2025 Palisades Fire.