-Updated with a statement from a spokesperson for Sam Liccardo on Aug. 1, 2024
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I was sitting inside Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., waiting for State Assemblymember Evan Low to appear, when I received a text informing me he was running a few minutes behind.
After a week or so of correspondence with his campaign staff, I was looking forward to finally meeting this busy candidate.
I got a text informing me he was running a few minutes behind.
“First of all, it is a pleasure to be with you today,” he said upon arrival. “It is good to be with you here at home.”
He apologized for being a little tardy, explaining he’d just driven directly from Half Moon Bay, where he’d been campaigning.
“I had the privilege to work for our amazing community here in Los Gatos in the California State Legislature for eight years, prior to redistricting,” he said. “This community is very important to me.”
He was back from Sacramento, midway through his second summer break week.
“I have the distinction that I still have a full time job as assemblymember,” he said, taking a jab at his opponent, former San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo, who is not currently in political office.
“And of course, not always being here, I am trying to do the best that I can to be as effective as possible to make sure that I maintain the commitments that we’ve made to the hard-working people for this Silicon Valley.”
This year, politically, has been one “doozy” after another.
On the national front that includes a convicted felon running for president, seemingly endless fact-bending, ignorance of social graces, and varying recollections of the past, AI-assisted thinking—and on and on.
And it seems that every other country in our world wants “a piece of us,” and is buying up America faster than the speed of sound.
What is going on? Well, in no way does this article attempt to explain any of that.
We will stay local, aiming to provide a little context with this interview.
The Recount
Low squeaked his way into the runoff for a seat in Congress in a highly contentious 16th District race.
Low will run alone against Liccardo in November’s election, after a recount knocked Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian off the ballot. Liccardo and Low are both Democrats.
This contest made national headlines when, initially during the primary, there was a tie for second.
Shortly after the recount, Low introduced Assembly Bill 996 to require an automatic retabulation of votes in any exceptionally close statewide races and force public disclosure of those who contributed $10,000 or more to the initiative.
Shaking Hands
During our interview, several members of the community came by to shake Low’s hand, giving him best regards and words of encouragement.
After our short meeting we strolled over to the Los Gatos Town Plaza, where the Monterey Jazz Festival’s MJF Regional All-Star, Vocal Ensemble and Middle School Combo for the 2023-24 school year was performing.
Jonathan Knowles, chairman of the board for Los Gatos Music & Arts, and one of the event’s master of ceremonies, introduced Low. Many attendees waved.
You might remember that Low represented Los Gatos at the state level, until he was redistricted out.
Our current State Assembly District is “28,” and we are represented by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Democrat. We are represented by Dave Cortese in the State Senate.
The winner of this election will serve for four years and will take the seat that Rep. Anna Eshoo is vacating.
Eshoo, who was seated on Jan. 3, 1993, announced on Nov. 21, 2023, that she would not seek reelection.
She has authored over 50 bills that have been signed into law by five presidents.
Eshoo has yet to endorse either Low or Liccardo.
“Whoever the people choose in the 16th Congressional District, I will do everything I possibly can to establish a new congressional office and walk them through the hundred of things that will be useful to them,” she told the Los Gatan last week.
Home Base?
The residence question was raised by Spotlight Silicon Valley on July 24, in an article titled, “Silicon Valley lawmaker running for Congress doesn’t live in his district.”
I reached out to Low to get his response.
Low’s campaign headquarters commented, “Evan is proud to live in the district he is running in to represent, just as he did when he ran for the Assembly. From the launch of the campaign, Evan was clear that his commitment to representing the communities of Assembly District 26 would never waiver. Sam Liccardo on the other hand doesn’t live in the district he is running to represent.”
Congressional candidates are not required to live in the district they would represent. Liccardo’s campaign has noted that he lives a few blocks east of the 16th District boundary in San Jose.
Liccardo’s team offered this statement:
“While our neighbors are concerned about rising costs, existential climate change and their rights being on the line, Evan Low keeps talking about a ‘residency test’ he doesn’t even pass,” a spokesperson for the campaign said.
As a sitting assembly member, Low’s office keeps him at work in Sacramento much of the year.
Low told me there will be debates to look forward to.
“This will hopefully happen when the current legislative session breaks again at the end of August,” he said. “I fully anticipate a number of forums in September-October.”
State-Level Moves
So, what is his proudest accomplishment?
“In the Sacramento Bee newspaper, I was named one of the most prolific lawmakers in the state, and I am proud of that because I am a workhorse,” Low told me. “I am proud of this not necessarily to toot my own horn, but, here’s why it’s so important—especially in this period of time. The incentives in this political environment is to say the most outlandish things on both far ends of the spectrum and of course, you think about it, with whatever you actually accomplish and achieve for the American people you should be telling the truth. Things Marjorie Taylor Green, in particular, is saying is on the far spectrum with not having one legislative accomplishment of note. The American people want and deserve—and expect—much more from the members of Congress to fix and make positive changes. That’s why I hone in on what I have done.”
Why Run?
On his website, evanlowforcongress.com, Low explains his reasons for running: “Throughout my time in public service, I have defended the most vulnerable and built coalitions to deliver solutions to the big challenges of our time. Now, I’m running for Congress at an inflection point for Silicon Valley and the nation.”
He’s racked up support from the likes of Senator Laphonza Butler, Rep. Ro Khanna, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, the California Labor Federation and the South Bay Labor Council.
And on July 25, Bay Area-based Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) media outlets hosted the Asian American Roundtable, where Low was the featured guest.
Dr. Linh Taylor, an acupuncturist, writes, the “California State Assembly has passed AB 888 which is authored by Assembly Member Evan Low to ensure patients who are seeking treatment for pain are made aware of non-pharmaceutical options such as acupuncture, chiropractic, behavioral health, etc.”
She goes on, “This bill has been so critical in addressing the opioid crisis in our Nation. We’re very thankful for Evan Low for being a strong advocate for acupuncture. This effort saves lives.”
Legislative Day
In an interview, Karen Trolan, a real estate broker at Christie’s International Real Estate, Sereno, explained how she first met the candidate.
“I was behind Low when I met him and he was mayor of Campbell,” she said. “I was district chair for the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, at the time.”
Trolan adds, “After he was elected to represent us at the state level, I now actually get to challenge him about bills protecting property rights. Every year, in April or May the California Association of Realtors, and other realtors, head up to Sacramento for Legislative Day. We go to the capital and meet with our representatives to discuss open legislation. We discuss open bills related to real estate issues, such as: protecting property rights, homeowner rights any and everything related.”
-Interview with Anna Eshoo contributed by Drew Penner
