With the congressional candidates sniping at each other for months, the October 11 televised debate between gay state Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino) and former San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo (D) could produce feisty exchanges between the two South Bay leaders. They are seeking to succeed Congressmember Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) in the state's 16th Congressional District.
Last year, Eshoo opted not to seek another term in her House seat, which straddles Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. It led to a heated primary race in March that saw Liccardo emerge in first place, and Low tied with Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D) for second.
It appeared all three would advance to the November 5 general election ballot. But a former aide to Liccardo sought a recount, claiming he was doing so on behalf of Low. The state legislator cried foul, accusing Liccardo of working behind the scenes to bump him out of the race.
In the end, Low emerged victorious over Simitian by five votes, keeping alive his bid to become the Bay Area's first LGBTQ congressional member. It also maintained months of acrimony between the two campaigns.
Even Liccardo's announcement the morning of their scheduled debate last Wednesday, October 2, that he had to pull out of it due to having laryngitis was met with suspicion by Low's camp. Low campaign manager Lindsey Cobia told debate co-host KQED that Liccardo's doing so "was suspicious," though the public broadcaster reported it had seen Liccardo's medical records showing his doctor had ordered at least five days of vocal rest.
It initially was unclear if the debate would be rescheduled. But within a day co-hosts KQED, NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48 announced it was a go for October 11, which happens to be National Coming Out Day for the LGBTQ community. Set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday and moderated by NBC Bay Area anchor Raj Mathai, the 60-minute debate will be aired live on both the television station and KQED Public Radio.
It comes as the rhetoric between the two candidates' camps has heated up in recent weeks. South Bay firefighters and police have lashed out at Liccardo, blaming him for laying off 49 firefighters and the hollowing out of the San Jose Police Department during his time as mayor.
"There is a reason why every law enforcement organization has not endorsed Sam Liccardo: we don't trust him," stated Steve Slack, president of the San Jose Police Officers Association, which is backing Low, in mid-September.
That followed the contretemps in August stemming from a complaint former Federal Elections Commission Chair Ann Ravel, who is among Liccardo's endorsers, had filed accusing Low's campaign of using nonprofit Stand With Asian Americans' contact list in violation of federal campaign laws. It prompted Low backer former congressmember Mike Honda to pen a blistering rebuttal accusing Liccardo of resorting to "dirty tricks" that was published by the news site San Jose Spotlight.
This month, Liccardo and the campaign watchdog group Defend the Vote accused Low of illegally using funds in his state legislative campaign account toward his congressional race. Defend the Vote Executive Director Brian Lemek filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission asking it to investigate the matter.
In an email to his supporters October 7, Liccardo wrote that he was "outraged" about the matter. His campaign included a link to a federal filing showing $545,000 from Low's "Evan Low For Assembly 2024 Committee" had gone to political consulting firm Impact Politics LLC.
"He has another million in his state account, and I have no doubt that he will spend the rest to try and illegally win," wrote Liccardo, 54. "If you are as outraged as I am, now is the time to take action. Donate, volunteer, and show Evan that he can't get away with this illegal behavior."
Low's deputy campaign manager, Lam Nguyen, in a statement to the San Jose Mercury News accused Liccardo's campaign of once again having one of his endorsers "file false and meritless complaints to distract from Sam's own ethical failings."
Meanwhile, LGBTQ advocates this week announced new investments to support Low's candidacy. They are also organizing people to knock on voters' doors on behalf of Low this Saturday.
A new poll conducted on behalf of Equality California Votes, an independent federal super PAC aligned with the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, found Low and Liccardo in a statistical tie less than a month before Election Day. According to the poll, Low garnered 45% support and Liccardo received 48% with 7% of the 600 respondents undecided. Conducted September 5-10, the poll had a margin of error of ±4.0%.
The political action committee also released two new ads Tuesday on behalf of Low that will air on connected TV and other digital platforms as part of a six-figure media buy. The 15-second positive spot and a 30-second contrast spot highlight Low's record of results in the California Assembly protecting reproductive freedom and marriage equality.
Low has been ramping up his fundraising appeals, sending out text messages to his supporters asking them to donate at least $25 toward his campaign coffers.
"We've built this campaign on the power of people like you — those who want to see a new generation of leadership in Congress and for the time, see both LGBTQ+ and Asian representation in CA-16," noted Low's campaign in an October 5 text.
At 41 years old, Low would be one of the youngest LGBTQ congressional members should he be elected next month. He would also bring the number of out members in California's congressional delegation to three.
Other races
Gay Congressmembers Mark Takano (D-Riverside) and Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) are expected to easily win reelection to their Southern California House seats in November. Takano, 63, and Garcia, 46, early on endorsed Low in his primary race.
Looking to join them is gay lawyer Will Rollins, 40, who is making his second bid for a House seat in the Palms Spring area. Rollins is aiming to oust from office conservative Congressmember Ken Calvert (R-Corona) from his 41st Congressional District seat.
Unlike when he first ran against Calvert, 71, in 2022, Rollins this time around has received early backing and support from the Democratic Party. He announced this week raising more than $10.6 million for his 2024 bid, which makes him "the highest-raising challenger without self-funding in the state's history," according to his campaign.
"Supporters across California's 41st and folks across the country know that our district is one of the best chances to take back the House and fight for our freedoms," stated Rollins. "I'm grateful for the support and I look forward to finishing the job in less than 30 days."
In recent weeks, Rollins has released several ads attacking Calvert and criticized him for declining to debate him. Polling shows their race in a dead heat.
A poll by the University of Southern California, CSU Long Beach, and Cal Poly Pomona conducted last month found Rollins and Calvert both with 46.1% among the 539 respondents. It had a margin of error at ±4.2%.
With their race potentially determining which party controls the House, it has garnered national attention. So much so that GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is coming this weekend to campaign with Calvert.
"The 41st District will decide who controls the House of Representatives. Join us this Sunday in Corona for a Get Out the Vote rally with Speaker Johnson!" Calvert wrote in a post on X.
As for Rollins, he rolled out this week a video pitch on his behalf from actor and activist Eva Longoria on his social media accounts. In it, she calls Rollins "incredible" and "the fresh bold leader we need right now in Congress."
The three universities also polled voters in Eshoo's district and found Liccardo leading 30.9% to 20.1% over Low, with over 40% of the 544 respondents undecided. It also had a margin of error at ±4.2%.
In the East Bay race to succeed outgoing Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who fell short in the March primary for one of the state's U.S. Senate seats, queer candidate Jennifer Kim-Anh Tran, Ph.D., is seen as the underdog against fellow Democrat Lateefah Simon, a BART board member. The USC/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly Pomona poll had Simon leading 27.9% to 14.8% for Tran with a margin of error of ±4.3%.
Two other gay Democratic congressional candidates mounting rematches this year have not gotten the same party support as Rollins has received. Progressive lawyer David Kim aims to oust from office Congressmember Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) from his District 34 House seat to become the first out Korean American elected to Congress.
Progressive activist Derek Marshall is seen as the underdog in his race against Congressmember Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) for the District 23 House seat in the high desert areas east of Los Angeles. The USC/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly Pomona poll didn't include either Marshall's or Kim's races.
Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http://www.ebar.com Monday mornings for Political Notes, the notebook's online companion. This week's column reported on the SF mayoral contenders' stances on backfilling federal HIV funding cuts.
Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Threads @ https://www.threads.net/@matthewbajko.
Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or email [email protected]
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