Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo Rumored To Announce Congressional Run Soon

A leaked fundraiser e-mail revealed on Thursday revealed that former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo plans to enter the 16th Congressional District race, becoming the most well-known candidate seeking to replace outgoing Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

A graduate of Georgetown and Harvard, Liccardo began to practice law in the mid-90s. After serving as a criminal prosecutor for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office for several years, Liccardo began his political career in earnest in 2006, getting elected to the San Jose City Council. He served for eight years and made affordable housing his pet issue during his two terms. In 2014 Liccardo then ran for Mayor of San Jose, narrowly defeating then Santa Clara County Supervisor and current state Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) by a narrow 50.8%-49.2% vote.

As Mayor, Liccardo had a somewhat rocky tenure. While praised for pension reform, environmental projects, and for helping connect BART into the city, he was heavily criticized for not working to alleviate the housing crisis in the city despite numerous efforts. His efforts to attract tech companies and create campuses in the city, such as Google building a large campus in the 2010s, also proved to be a mixed blessing. While initially praised, many residents criticized the plans as they led to severely heightened property and rent costs, boxing out many people from homes and affordable housing. Many tech firms also left or heavily reduced their presence in the city both during and after the pandemic, creating a massive problem for the city as Liccardo was leaving office.

Liccardo was also in favor of many controversial measures, such as mandatory firearm liability insurance and proposing that the city start their own public utility and leaving PG&E. Term-limited out in 2022, Liccardo was replaced by Councilman Matt Mahan in January.

Throughout most of 2023, Liccardo has remained quiet and has been teaching law at nearby Stanford, albeit with many in politics expecting him to run for a local, county, or state government position in the coming few elections. Last week’s retirement announcement by Congresswoman Eshoo, and the subsequent opening of her seat in the 2024 election, charged Liccardo supporters in trying to get him to run. These efforts were further fueled by a weekend poll by Public Policy Polling, which found that district residents would prefer Liccardo over seven other candidates either running or considering runs.

Liccardo, Low likely to announce Congressional runs soon

Currently, five candidates have already entered the race, with three of them bringing political experience. Former Saratoga City Councilor and the challenger against Eshoo in the past 2 elections Rishi Kumar (D) joined the race within days of Eshoo’s announced retirement. Also in is current Santa Clara County Supervisor and former state Senator Joe Simitian (D) and former Menlo Park Mayor Peter Ohtaki (R). Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) is also expected to announce soon, with many outlets previously predicting a Simitian-Low matchup in November for the heavily Democratic district.

However Liccardo is now expected to buck that likely matchup, as a political operative sent out e-mails asking for donations for his campaign for Congress and a fundraiser this coming weekend, heavily hinting that Liccardo will likely formally announce a run soon.

Liccardo has played coy about running despite the leaked fundraiser e-mail and supporters putting together an exploratory committee.

“I don’t have any announcements or decision yet,” said Liccardo on Thursday. “I am still in the process of calling community leaders and supporters to talk about how the federal government can better address the many critical issues we face— such as homelessness, housing affordability, crime, climate change and the innovation economy—and am grateful for the good ideas and encouragement that they’ve offered.”

Complicating matters was a recent interview with NBC before Eshoo’s retirement announcement where Liccardo fielded a question about running for Congress in 2024 by saying “I’m not looking at anything like that. You won’t see me doing that next year I can assure you of that.

With an announcement now pending and likely to come soon, many political experts noted to the Globe on Thursday that it would be odd if he didn’t run for Congress in 2024.

“Liccardo was pretty much committed to teaching and sitting 2024 out until Eshoo retired,” Ben Kim, a pollster in Santa Clara County, told the Globe. “An open House seat doesn’t open up too often, especially in this district. That’s why so many have been entering the race or thinking of entering. Many Democrats did not want to challenge Eshoo, and the GOP stood no chance against her. Now, in a big race, several Democrats can duke it it with Republicans hoping to get their foot in the door with a split vote.

“This was supposed to be a Low-Simitian race. Well, it was actually supposed to be just another easy victory for Eshoo. But she retired, and with her out, Liccardo suddenly had a very attractive House seat open up.

“Odds are good that he’ll run. It isn’t 100%. I mean, what is in politics? And if Eshoo was still running, Liccardo would likely stay a teacher or go back into law for a few more years before looking at another race. But this is just too good an opportunity. And that poll, showing him ahead of everyone else? You have to take advantage of that, or at least look more into it.

“He’ll likely be officially announcing soon – he is probably getting all of his ducks in a row right now. And if he doesn’t run and goes for another race or something, his input is still critical as whoever he backs can have a big advantage with him going to bat for them.”

Official announcements by both Liccardo and Low on running for Congress in 2024 are expected to occur in the coming days.