Evan Low

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In December 2023, Low announced his intention to run for California's 16th congressional district, which was held by retiring incumbent Anna Eshoo. [25] After the primary in March 2024, Low and Santa Clara County supervisor Joe Simitian repeatedly traded the second-place position multiple times during the vote count. [26] By April 3, 2024, both Low and Simitian tied with 30,249 votes each and were expected to advance to the general election under a stipulation by California elections code regarding a second-place tie in primary elections. [26] Both campaigns released statements indicating that they intended to compete in the general election. [27]

However, after a poll believed to be conducted on behalf of supporters of first-placed Sam Liccardo testing two-way match-ups was fielded, [28] two residents of the district, including former Liccardo campaign finance director and current donor Jonathan Padilla, requested a recount; Liccardo himself was ineligible to do so because he does not live in the district. [29] Liccardo's campaign denied responsibility, though they agreed the recount was necessary, saying "every vote should be counted." [30]

At the conclusion of the recount, Simitian was ultimately eliminated and Low advanced to the general election by a 5-vote margin. [31]

In October 2024, good-government group Defend the Vote [32] filed an FEC complaint against Low, [33] alleging that he had spent nearly $600,000 [34] from his state campaign account on ads that were distributed across the congressional district. Defend the Vote argued that the move violated federal campaign finance laws, [35] as state campaigns can accept higher individual contributions than federal campaigns, and can receive political action committee and corporation donations directly.

In wake of the expenditures, an attorney for Liccardo sent cease and desist letters [34] to five TV stations that broadcast the ads. The Mercury News Editorial Board reaffirmed their endorsement of Liccardo, [36] criticizing Low for “putting political self-interest ahead of campaign integrity.”

Post-legislative career

In March 2025, Low was elected as the president of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, succeeding Annise Parker. [37]

In March 2025, the California Fair Political Practices Commission fined Low $106,000 for campaign finance violations after he admitted trying to conceal payments to actor Alec Baldwin to appear at his campaign rallies, which Low had previously claimed had happened on Baldwin's "own accord." Low had utilized a nonprofit he operated (The Foundation for California’s Technology and Innovation Economy) to pay Baldwin, and messages between organizers proved that he had attempted to hide the payments. Low was also criticized by the agency for failing to keep track of campaign transactions, missing the deadline to disclose nonprofit finances, and illegally shutting down his campaign account before reimbursing his nonprofit. [38]

Electoral history

California State Assembly

Evan Low
EvanLow-3x5.jpg
Official portrait, 2016
Member of the California State Assembly
In office
December 1, 2014 December 2, 2024
2014 California State Assembly 28th district election [39] [40]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Low 30,807 39.7
Republican Chuck Page 20,895 26.9
Democratic Barry Chang19,15624.7
Republican Michael Hunsweck6,7328.7
Total votes77,590 100.0
General election
Democratic Evan Low 71,239 59.4
Republican Chuck Page48,64540.6
Total votes119,884 100.0
Democratic hold
2016 California State Assembly 28th district election [41] [42]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 83,038 71.5
Republican Nicholas Sclavos 33,154 28.5
Total votes116,192 100.0
General election
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 136,547 70.0
Republican Nicholas Sclavos58,64130.0
Total votes195,188 100.0
Democratic hold
2018 California State Assembly 28th district election [43] [44]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 77,011 70.8
Republican Michael L. Snyder 31,776 29.2
Total votes108,787 100.0
General election
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 130,815 71.1
Republican Michael L. Snyder53,19528.9
Total votes184,010 100.0
Democratic hold
2020 California State Assembly 28th district election [45] [46]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 96,976 71.1
Republican Carlos Rafael Cruz 32,136 23.5
No party preference Sam Ross7,3505.4
Total votes136,462 100.0
General election
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 166,733 71.6
Republican Carlos Rafael Cruz65,97628.4
Total votes232,709 100.0
Democratic hold

After redistricting added Campbell to Assemblymember Marc Berman's district, Low announced he would run in the new 26th district spanning Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Santa Clara. [47]

2022 California State Assembly 26th district election [48] [49]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 45,916 66.9
Republican Tim Gorsulowsky 16,289 23.7
Democratic Long Jiao6,4349.4
Total votes68,639 100.0
General election
Democratic Evan Low (incumbent) 81,595 74.0
Republican Tim Gorsulowsky28,61626.0
Total votes136,462 100.0
Democratic hold

U.S. House of Representatives

2024 California's 16th congressional district election (final recount primary results on May 1, 2024) [50] [51] [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sam Liccardo 38,492 21.1
Democratic Evan Low 30,261 16.6
Democratic Joe Simitian 30,25616.6
Republican Peter Ohtaki23,28312.8
Democratic Peter Dixon14,6778.1
Democratic Rishi Kumar12,3836.8
Republican Karl Ryan11,5636.3
Democratic Julie Lythcott-Haims 11,3866.2
Democratic Ahmed Mostafa5,8143.2
Democratic Greg Tanaka2,4211.3
Democratic Joby Bernstein1,6520.9
Total votes182,188 100.0
General election
Democratic Sam Liccardo 179,583 58.2
Democratic Evan Low128,89341.8
Total votes308,476 100.0
Democratic hold

Honors

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation naming June 5, 2006, "Evan Low Day" in the City and County of San Francisco. [6] [53] [54]

Assemblymember Low has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the Internet Association, TechNet, The Computing Technology Industry Association, California Faculty Association, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, California District Attorneys Association and Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. [55] [56] [57]

References

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  2. "Bay Area Reporter :: Gay CA Assemblyman Low to co-chair Yang presidential campaign".
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  4. 1 2 3 Jones, Carolyn (December 2, 2009). "Young, gay Asian becomes mayor of Campbell". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Campbell Council Expected To Elect Country's Youngest Openly Gay Mayor". KTVU. December 1, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Vongsarath, Chris (2009-12-02). "Campbell's Evan Low sworn in as youngest Asian-American, openly gay mayor in the country". San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved 2015-06-24. ... following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Art Low, a former Campbell Chamber of Commerce President and the 1994 Citizen of the Year.
  7. Babcock, Brian (January 3, 2013). "Evan Low says he'll focus on 'issues that unite us'". San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved April 24, 2013. [Low] wanted to become a teacher, while his father Arthur wanted him to take over his optometry business.
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  35. "Defend the Vote Adds More Beef to its FEC Complaint Against Evan Low". San Jose Inside. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
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  37. Ring, Trudy (March 5, 2025). "Evan Low is on a mission to get LGBTQ+ political candidates elected. Here's his plan". The Advocate . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
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  51. "Final Recount Election Summary Report". County of San Mateo - Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's-Elections Office. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
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  53. "Evan Low | Asian Pacific American Political Database | Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies". Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  54. Elias, Jennifer (2010-02-04). "New Campbell mayor credits much of his success to SJSU". Spartan Daily. San Jose State University. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2015-06-24. Low said he was rejected from every major college he applied.
  55. "Low Named 2017 Legislator of the Year by Tech Association". 15 March 2017.
  56. "CFA honors legislators dedicated to helping protect, propel higher education in the state - California Faculty Association". www.calfac.org. Archived from the original on 2016-02-11.
  57. "Political Spotlight: Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) | FACCC". www.faccc.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11.