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Ranking the Top Candidates in the 16th District Congressional Race

By Robert Haugh

At the end of last year, Congressmember Anna Eshoo announced her retirement.

Eshoo represented California Congressional District 16, the northern part of Silicon Valley for three decades. It ranges from Pacifica to Los Gatos and includes San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

The city of Santa Clara is outside the district, but Assemblyman Evan Low who represents the Mission City has thrown his hat into the race to succeed Eshoo.

Low has some big name company.

Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has also jumped in after he decided not to take on Congressmember Zoe Lofgren who represents most of San Jose.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor Member Joe Simitian has also entered the race. He represents the northernmost Supervisorial district in Santa Clara County.

This race will receive a lot of media attention and if Low succeeds, it’ll open up an Assembly seat based in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara News Online will periodically rank the candidates and their campaigns.

The primary is in March. The top two candidates will face off in November.

Rankings:

ONE – Joe Simitian

Supervisor Simitian announced his campaign at the end of last year by releasing a lot of local endorsements. That’s a smart move. But his biggest announcement came this month when Eshoo tapped him to succeed her. He gets the top ranking.

TWO – Sam Liccardo

Liccardo raised a lot of money quickly at the end of the year. He has good name recognition and has released polling to show he’s ahead. But as the San Jose Mayor, he may not be well known (or well liked) outside of his city or Santa Clara County.  That may be why he’s running TV ads already. Interestingly, his website lists no endorsements. 

THREE – Evan Low

Assemblymember Low is considered a good fundraiser and landed the endorsement of Congressmember Ro Khanna and US Senator Laphonza Butler in addition to other good endorsements. If he wins, Low would become the Bay Area’s first openly LGBTQ Congressional representative.

Other candidates to watch:

Peter Dixon: a former Marine and State Department official.

Rishi Kumar: former Saratoga City Councilmember who has run against Eshoo unsuccessfully multiple times.

Julie Lythcott-Haims: a former Stanford Dean and Palo Alto City Councilmember.

5 comments

  1. RE: ESHOO’S SEAT & CLIMATE PANEL: Mr. Delson, what cities are included in district 16? I am wondering why more panels didn’t include ALL of them. I’m looking forward to hearing all of their views on our local climate solution needs as well as policy.

    Reply

  2. AFter reading this, liccardo needs to drop out. he is obviously led by the current flavor of the day. Doesn’t care about the residents and who he hurts in the process. Go fly a kite, liccardo.

    https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/01/19/liccardo-says-san-jose-bart-needs-to-be-scaled-down-a-major-admission-from-projects-biggest-champion/?utm_email=F4FB44C125A47408147C540575&lctg=F4FB44C125A47408147C540575&active=no&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2024%2f01%2f19%2fliccardo-says-san-jose-bart-needs-to-be-scaled-down-a-major-admission-from-projects-biggest-champion%2f&utm_campaign=bang-mult-nl-pm-report-nl&utm_content=curated

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  3. Those in Anna Eshoo’s district may value a chance to get to know ALL the candidates and hear their views on climate and the environment. In order to give all ten adequate time to respond to questions, Citizens’ Climate Lobby has set up two separate Candidate Panels (five candidates each time.)

    They will be held on-line, with pre-registration required. To register, go to:
    bit.ly/CD16-Climate-Panel

    Feb 1, 7:00 – 8:30pm
    Joby Bernstein
    Julie Lythcott-Haims
    Evan Low
    Joe Simitian
    Greg Lin Tanaka

    Feb 5, 7:00 -8:30pm
    Ahmed Mostafa
    Peter Dixon
    Rishi Kumar
    Sam Liccardo
    Peter Ohtaki

    Reply

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