Four months after losing his bid to serve in Congress, gay former California state assemblymember Evan Low nonetheless ended up in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, he officially took over as the new president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
The national organization works to elect LGBTQ people to office across the country at the local, state, and federal levels. It had endorsed and worked to elect Low last year to an open U.S. House seat centered in Silicon Valley that he ultimately lost to fellow Democrat Sam Liccardo, a former mayor of San Jose.
"D.C. can't get rid of me either way. Fate still has me here still doing the work," said Low, 41, who grew up in San Jose and plans to split his time between the nation's capital and the Bay Area.
Speaking by phone with the Bay Area Reporter March 4, Low noted it is a full circle moment for him, as the Victory Fund had endorsed him in his first bid for elected office when he was 20 years old. He lost that 2004 race for a seat on the Campbell City Council but won election two years later at age 23, again with Victory's backing, and went on to win his legislative seat with the organization's support in 2014.
"I am excited to come back home to Victory," said Low, calling it "a family business" since he "is a product of the Victory Fund."
He succeeds Annise Parker, who had announced last year she intended to resign after leading the political group and its educational arm known as the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute since December 2017. Low will also oversee the Victory Institute, on whose board he once served and was chosen as one of its David Bohnett fellows.
"We must accelerate building LGBTQ+ influence and power. Evan will not only expand opportunities but also reinforce the positive influence of LGBTQ+ leaders across the U.S. and internationally," stated gay LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Board of Directors Joseph Falk. "His expertise, experience, and humanity will fortify Victory to build an even stronger, more inclusive future for all."
Added Falk, a licensed mortgage originator based in Miami, "With his extensive background in politics, we are confident that Low will achieve both missions – helping to elect more LGBTQ+ leaders and ensuring they have the tools to serve successfully. With Low's leadership, expect more LGBTQ+ candidates, more candidate wins, and greater LGBTQ+ political impact."
Low told the B.A.R. one of his biggest challenges leading Victory Fund will be to counteract the narrative that some in the Democratic Party espoused following last year's election that President Donald Trump's victory came from his attacks on transgender rights.
"I think not subscribing to this narrative we are a liability," said Low, "but, rather, we are an asset. I hear that time and time again."
He isn't concerned about seeing the Democratic Party pull away from financially backing LGBTQ candidates for office. To counteract any notion that LGBTQ candidates are a political liability, Low pointed to the numerous LGBTQ elected officials across the U.S. from the three out governors and 14 congressional members to various big city mayors, as well as high-ranking gay officials in the Trump administration such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
"We are everywhere," proclaimed Low, adding that LGBTQ elected officials are focused on issues of most concern to voters, from the high cost of eggs and health care to affordable housing and access to education. "All of these kitchen table issues are important to LGBTQ elected officials and, yes, we will be authentic in our lived experiences and who we are ... We are running for office to help the betterment of everyday citizens."
He encouraged any LGBTQ individual interested in seeking elected office to contact Victory Fund (https://victoryfund.org/) for assistance with their candidacy. It already has begun endorsing out candidates running in local elections this year as well as those who will appear on the ballot during the midterm elections in 2026.
"I am excited for those thinking about meeting this moment in time and running for office," said Low. "Please contact us at Victory. We are here for you and excited for what the future holds."
Parker had planned to resign on December 1 but prolonged her tenure until a successor could be found. Low told the B.A.R. that his discussions about taking on the role with Victory Fund leaders began a few weeks after the November 5 election last fall.
"As Mayor Parker indicated when she announced her retirement, the board was searching for individuals who could meet the moment and also were familiar with the work of Victory and cared about the organization," said Low. "I was approached and excited to learn more to see if this would make sense and be the next chapter in my political career."
Low wouldn't disclose his compensation. According to its most recent tax filings, Parker earned $178,202 in total compensation in 2023.
His first public appearance in the Bay Area as Victory Fund's CEO and president will come March 14 when he emcees the State of The County of Santa Clara 2025 Address to be given by Board President and District 3 Supervisor Otto Lee next Friday, March 14, Low told the B.A.R. Later this month he will head to Houston for Victory Fund's Pride Under Pressure Champagne Brunch fundraiser being held Sunday, March 30. It will provide him a chance to publicly thank Parker for her leadership of the organization, noted Low.
Parker had served as Houston's city comptroller and on its City Council. Her victory in 2009 as mayor of Texas' largest municipality – and the fourth largest city in the U.S. – marked the first time an out LGBTQ+ candidate had been elected mayor of a major American city.
In December of that year Low became the youngest openly gay, Asian American mayor in the country when his colleagues on the Campbell City Council elected him to the ceremonial municipal role. He also follows Parker as being the second former elected official to lead the Victory Fund since its founding in 1991.
"I am excited to also acknowledge the fact that I am honored to be stepping into the most fabulous shoes of Mayor Annise Parker in this role," Low said.
Newsom LGBTQ judicial appointees drop
The number of LGBTQ people that Governor Gavin Newsom named to judicial vacancies in 2024 dropped precipitously from the year prior. Last year, Newsom appointed eight LGBTQ judges to the state bench.
It marked a nearly 50% decrease from 2023, when Newsom appointed 15 LGBTQ people to judicial appointments. And the drop occurred despite the fact that more out applicants had sought to become judges last year than had two years ago.
According to data Newsom's office quietly posted online February 28, 22 LGBTQ people applied for a court vacancy in 2024. In 2023, 14 LGBTQ people had applied.
Since becoming governor in 2019 through December 31, 2024, Newsom appointed 47 LGBTQ judges. They accounted for 5.9% of sitting judges in the Golden State last year.
As of January 1, Newsom had made 576 judicial appointments, including 131 in 2024, from a pool of 1,898 applicants of which 147 were LGBTQ. According to the governor's office more than half of Newsom's judicial appointments have been women, and more than half also identified as a person of color.
Updated 3/6/25 to attribute a quote to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Board of Directors Joseph Falk. The Victory Fund misattributed it in its news release about hiring Low to LGBTQ+ Victory Action Board Chair Wade Rakes.
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 how transgender judges are now obscured in the annual demographic reports for the California court system.
Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Threads @ https://www.threads.net/@matthewbajko and on Bluesky @ https://bsky.app/profile/politicalnotes.bsky.social.
Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or email [email protected]
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!
