From 1998 to 2004, he served as the President "pro tempore" of the State Senate. Prior to his time in the Senate, he served in the California State Assembly from 1965 to 1974, and again from 1988 to 1996. He was originally elected to the Assembly to succeed his older brother, Phil, who had been elected to Congress and had served as the majority whip. In April 1983, Phil died in office and was succeeded by his widow Sala Burton who won a special election that June. Sala served until her death in 1987 after which Nancy Pelosi won another special election to fill that seat.