Assemblymember Evan Low is officially jumping into the race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo in what could make him the first openly LGBTQ congressmember to represent the Bay Area.
Low announced his congressional bid Tuesday morning — two weeks after Eshoo said she wouldn’t seek re-election. The assemblymember was on the short list of names local politicos expected to vie to replace her after nearly three decades in Congress. Eshoo’s District 16 seat represents large sections of the Peninsula and the South Bay, running from Pacifica in the north to San Jose, Los Gatos and Pescadero in the south.
Low told The Mercury News that he sees this as an “incredible opportunity to continue the legacy of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.”
“Our region here in Silicon Valley, we expect exceptionalism,” he said. “So I take that job very seriously.”
The 40-year-old lawmaker got his political start at a young age when in 2006 he became the first Asian American and openly gay individual to be elected to the Campbell City Council. A few years later in 2009, he became the mayor of Campbell, making him the youngest Asian American and youngest LGBTQ mayor in the country at the time.
In 2014, Low was elected to the California State Assembly for the first time. He currently serves as the chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and the co-chair of the Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus. He’s also the former chair of the LGBTQ Caucus.
His current District 26 seat encompasses parts of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
If elected, Low said he will focus on “bread and butter key core issues” like public safety, as well as Silicon Valley retaining its “competitiveness with global innovation.”
“It’s no surprise that something everyday residents want is to be safe in our communities,” he said.
As a state legislator, Low has led the charge to enshrine same-sex marriage in the California Constitution through a 2024 ballot measure, overhaul the state’s conservatorship system and prohibit law enforcement agencies from publishing booking photos of suspects arrested for nonviolent crimes on their social media accounts.
The assemblymember also has been a big advocate for the Stop AAPI Hate movement and making Election Day a holiday.
Low has already scooped up endorsements from several sitting congressmembers — making him the first in the race to do so — including Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Santa Clara), Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) and Mark Takano (D-Riverside).
“Evan was born and raised here in the Silicon Valley, and he’s dedicated his career to serving the diverse families that call it home,” Khanna said in a statement. “In the Assembly, he’s been at the forefront of bridging the gap between technology, innovation, and public policy, building a greener economy and fighting for fundamental human rights.”
Last week, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian announced his bid for the District 16 seat with a list of more than 130 endorsements from community members and former and current elected officials. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo also filed paperwork to run, although he told The Mercury News that he hasn’t made a final decision on his candidacy.
Ex-Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar, Menlo Park Mayor Peter Ohtaki, investor Joby Bernstein and Republican Karl Ryan are also in the running.