Key Takeaways
- Charlotte Raynor and Aaron Brown, both successful journalists, married in 1982 after meeting in Seattle.
- After winning multiple journalism awards including an Emmy, Charlotte transitioned to become a prominent political activist in Arizona.
- While supporting her husband’s broadcasting career, she built her own legacy through campaign organizing and Democratic Party leadership roles.
Aaron Brown, the legendary journalist known for his calm and composed reporting style, was supported throughout his illustrious career by his wife, Charlotte Raynor.
While Aaron made his mark in broadcast journalism, Charlotte carved her own path as a journalist and a dedicated political activist, creating a legacy of her own in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Married Since 1980s
Charlotte met Aaron Brown in Seattle in 1980 while both were working as journalists.
Their shared passion for the craft of reporting and commitment to excellence created a strong bond.
The couple married in 1982, embarking on a life together that balanced their respective careers and family.
Charlotte chose to step back from the limelight to focus on raising their daughter, Gabby, born in 1988.
Despite Aaron’s demanding career in journalism, the couple maintained a partnership rooted in mutual respect and support.
Their Scottsdale home became a sanctuary where they enjoyed family time, especially cooking together.
Aaron often praised Charlotte’s ability to ground their family, allowing him to focus on his career with the assurance of her support.
Charlotte Raynor Is A Journalist Turned Activist
Charlotte Raynor’s career began in the newsroom, where she excelled as a political and state legislative correspondent.
She worked for several years in Seattle, earning accolades for her investigative reporting on major political and energy issues.
Notably, her contributions to a series of presidential candidate profiles earned a prestigious DuPont/Columbia Journalism Award.
Charlotte’s reporting career spanned roles at KING Broadcasting and KOMO TV, where she covered critical issues such as school finance and Washington’s infamous $7 billion municipal bond default on nuclear plant construction.
Her work garnered an Emmy Award and recognition from the National Women’s Political Caucus for Exceptional Merit Media.
After leaving the newsroom in the early 1990s, Charlotte transitioned into a new role as a political activist and volunteer, leveraging her skills in storytelling and organization to support democratic causes.
From Newsrooms To Campaigns
Charlotte’s foray into activism began with her work on President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
Serving as a neighborhood team leader in Scottsdale, Arizona, she organized voter registration drives, phone banks, and constituency groups such as Women for Obama and African-Americans for Obama.
Her success in grassroots organizing laid the foundation for a deeper involvement in political campaigns.
Over the years, Charlotte volunteered for high-profile campaigns in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, including Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and Kyrsten Sinema’s Senate race in 2018.
In 2014, she co-chaired the Women Choose Fred committee, focusing on outreach to women voters in support of Fred DuVal’s gubernatorial campaign in Arizona.
Raynor currently serves as a precinct committeeperson and a member of the State Committee.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Aaron Brown grew up in Minnesota in a Jewish household with four siblings, with a mother who managed the home and a father who worked in scrap metal.
- He left his political science studies at the University of Minnesota in 1966 to serve in the Coast Guard reserves.
- His media career started in Minneapolis as a talk radio host before he moved to Los Angeles to continue in radio.
