By Robert Haugh

Former Assemblymember Evan Low, faces a barrage of allegations from California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). 

The watchdog agency says he violated campaign finance laws dozens of times between 2018 and 2020.

Low served a decade in the Assembly, representing Santa Clara from 2014 to 2024. He lost a tight race for Congress last fall to former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. 

Low is accused of raising big-money contributions from tech giants—Apple, AT&T, and Facebook among them—and channeling those funds into a nonprofit foundation linked to his inner circle. 

The FPPC claims that same foundation then made over $113,000 in “non-monetary contributions” to Low’s re-election campaign. If proven, that could smash the state’s strict contribution limits.

This is the result of a five-year investigation by the FPPC’s enforcement division. It kicked off right after a 2020 report questioned Low’s relationship with the Foundation for California’s Technology and Innovation Economy. That nonprofit was formed by individuals close to him, including his then–chief of staff.

Low says he didn’t think he had to report “behested payments” for the group, because he didn’t directly solicit the money. But regulators disagree. They say officials must report any donation made at their request or with their support no matter who’s asking.

He’s also accused of missing deadlines to disclose nearly $230,000 in donations he raised for three nonprofits. In California, if you raise $5,000 or more from a single donor, you’ve got 30 days to file. Commission staff say Low repeatedly blew that window.

A foundation attorney denies it ever contributed to Low’s campaign. The group says it spent its funds educating lawmakers on tech issues, not boosting political candidates. 

But the FPPC disagrees. They say there’s evidence of seven in-kind contributions like services or goods to Low’s 2020 campaign.

Low has not responded to questions about the allegations. If the commission finds he did break the law, the penalties could be steep—up to $5,000 per violation. There are 44 proposed violations, though officials might pursue fewer counts.