Evan Low Explained

Evan Low
Office:Member of the California Assembly
Constituency:28th district (2014–2022)
26th district (2022–present)
Term Start:December 1, 2014
Predecessor:Paul Fong
Office2:Mayor of Campbell
Term Start2:December 1, 2009
Term End2:December 1, 2014
Predecessor2:Michael Kotowski
Successor2:Jeff Cristina
Birth Date:5 June 1983
Birth Place:San Jose, California, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:De Anza College (AA)
San Jose State University (BA)

Evan Low (born June 5, 1983) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly.[1] He is a Democrat representing the 26th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of Silicon Valley, including Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and portions of northern and western San Jose. He is a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus (and served as chair from 2017 to 2018 and 2021 to 2022), and currently serves as Chair of the California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Prior to his election in the Assembly in 2014, Low served as Mayor and City Councilmember in Campbell, California. On January 15, 2020, Low was named national co-chair of the Andrew Yang for president campaign.[2]

Early life

Low was born in San Jose, California, on June 5, 1983, to Chinese American optometrist Arthur Low. Low grew up in San Jose and attended Leland High School. In 2003, Low moved to neighboring Campbell.[3] [4] [5]

Low earned an associate's degree from De Anza College in Cupertino, and a bachelor's degree in political science from San Jose State University.

Campbell City Council

In 2004, Low unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the City Council, but he ran again in 2006 and won in his second attempt. Low worked as a senior district representative for California's former 28th State Assembly district Assemblymember Paul Fong.

When his colleagues selected him to become Campbell mayor in 2009, Low became the youngest openly gay, Asian American mayor in the nation.[6]

In 2013, his colleagues on the Campbell City Council selected him to serve as mayor for a second time.[7] His term on the council expired in 2014.

California Assembly

In 2014, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins appointed Low as Assistant Majority Whip.[8] Low was kept in the same leadership role by Atkins's successor, Speaker Anthony Rendon, in 2016.[9]

Low chaired the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee from March 2016 until November 2021, when he was removed without explanation by Speaker Anthony Rendon. Low was replaced by Marc Berman.[10] [11]

Low is a co-founder and co-chair of the California Legislative Tech Caucus.[12] There are 24 members of the Tech Caucus.[13]

In 2014, Low supported SCA 5, an initiative that would have asked voters to consider eliminating California Proposition 209's ban on the use of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in recruitment, admissions, and retention programs at California's public universities and colleges.[14] Proposition 209 also effectively banned affirmative action in the public contracting and employment. Low supported a similar effort to repeal Prop 209 in its entirety with ACA 5 and Proposition 16 in 2020.[15] In 2023, Low also supported ACA 7, a narrower effort "that would allow state agencies to consider race if academic research shows evidence those race-based programs could work."[16] [17]

In 2016, Low introduced AB 1887 that would ban all California state-funded travel to states that enacted laws to discriminate against individuals based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, that was supported by U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.[12] The California state-funded travel ban was replaced in 2023 with an advertising campaign.[18]

In 2016, New York Magazine identified Low as a potential United States presidential candidate in 2024 along with nine other young Democrats who, like Obama, have unusual ambition.[19]

In the 2017–2018 session, The Sacramento Bee identified Low as California's most prolific lawmaker, where he had the most bills signed by any member of the state legislature by Governor Jerry Brown.[20] He has also been credited with driving the future of Uber and Lyft in the California State Legislature.[21]

In 2019, Low introduced AB-57, which would allow candidates with birth names in character-based languages—such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean—to use those names in voter requested translated ballots. Previously, candidates such as Fiona Ma have had transliterated versions of their name (e.g. Fei O Na Ma) appear on translated ballots. The bill also required candidates without character based birth names to phonetically translate their names on translated ballots, unless they prove that they are known under a different name within the target community. AB-57 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2019 and went into effect in 2020.[22]

In 2023 in SB 815, language added by Low in AB 2098, was removed from California Law due to concerns it was unconstitutional being tested in Court. Judge William B. Shubb prevented any doctors from being punished during the one year the "anti-misinformation" language was on the books.[23]

In 2023, Low announced that he would be running for Congress in California's 16th congressional district.[24] It is currently represented by Representative Anna Eshoo, who announced that she would be retiring after the 2024 election.

2024 U.S. House of Representatives election

See also: 2024 California's 16th congressional district election. In December 2023, Low announced his intention to run for California's 16th congressional district, which was held by retiring incumbent Anna Eshoo. 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. 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.[25] Both campaigns released statements indicating that they intend to compete in the general election.[26]

However, after a poll believed to be conducted on behalf of supporters of first-placed Sam Liccardo testing two-way match-ups was fielded,[27] two residents of the district, including former Liccardo campaign finance director and current donor Jonathan Padilla, requested a recount; Liccardo himself is ineligible to because he does not live in the district.[28] Liccardo's campaign denied responsibility, though they agreed the recount was necessary, saying "every vote should be counted."[29]

At the conclusion of the recount, Simitian was ultimately eliminated and Low advanced to the general election by a 5-vote margin.[30]

Election results

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014.

2016 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016.

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018.

2020 California State Assembly

See also: 2020 California State Assembly election.

2022 California State Assembly

See also: 2022 California State Assembly election. 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.[31]

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] [32] [33]

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.[34] [35] [36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Election results, Santa Clara County, November 2014 . . November 4, 2014 . April 9, 2016.
  2. Web site: Bay Area Reporter :: Gay CA Assemblyman Low to co-chair Yang presidential campaign.
  3. News: Campbell picks young, gay mayor . Ken . McLaughlin . . December 7, 2009 . December 9, 2009.
  4. News: Jones. Carolyn. Young, gay Asian becomes mayor of Campbell. San Francisco Chronicle. December 2, 2009. December 2, 2009.
  5. Web site: Campbell Council Expected To Elect Country's Youngest Openly Gay Mayor. KTVU. December 1, 2009. December 2, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101216020445/http://www.ktvu.com/news/21777965/detail.html. December 16, 2010.
  6. News: Vongsarath . Chris . Campbell's Evan Low sworn in as youngest Asian-American, openly gay mayor in the country . 2009-12-02 . 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. News: Evan Low says he'll focus on 'issues that unite us' . Babcock . Brian . January 3, 2013 . . April 24, 2013 . [Low] wanted to become a teacher, while his father Arthur wanted him to take over his optometry business..
  8. News: California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins announces leadership team . Jeremy . White . . November 25, 2014 . April 9, 2016.
  9. News: Speaker Rendon names new California Assembly committee chairs . White . Jeremy . . March 10, 2016 . April 9, 2016.
  10. Web site: Ch-Ch-Changes: New Assembly Leadership, Committee Swaps. March 11, 2016. California State Association of Counties.
  11. News: San Jose Spotlight: Silicon Valley Lawmaker'S Committee Removal Sparks Outrage. November 22, 2021. Lloyd. Alaban.
  12. News: State Lawmakers Form Tech Caucus . Cheryll . Miller . The Recorder. ALM Media Properties, LLC . October 13, 2015 . April 9, 2016.
  13. News: Political Notebook: Pelosi backs CA banning travel to stateswith anti-LGBT laws . Matthew . Bajko . April 7, 2016 . April 9, 2016.
  14. Web site: California ACA5 2019-2020 Regular Session . 2024-01-05 . LegiScan . en.
  15. Web site: Vote Smart Facts For All . 2024-01-05 . Vote Smart.
  16. Web site: Bill Votes - ACA-7 Government preferences: programs: exceptions. . 2024-01-05 . leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
  17. News: Zinshteyn . Mikhail . 2023-06-21 . California voters may again vote on whether to bring back affirmative action, but in limited form . 2024-01-17 . CalMatters . en-US.
  18. Web site: Sheeler . Andrew . California no longer bans state-funded travel to more than half of the country . Sacramento Bee . 13 September 2023 . 28 April 2024.
  19. News: Is There a 'Next Obama' on the Democratic Party Bench? . Marin . Cogan . . February 25, 2016 . March 14, 2016.
  20. Web site: The Sacramento Bee.
  21. Web site: Meet the man driving the future of Uber and Lyft in the California Legislature - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. 16 June 2017.
  22. News: Bollag. Sophia. July 18, 2019. California candidates can use foreign language birth names on ballots under new law. Sacramento Bee.
  23. News: Bollag. Sophia. October 7, 2023. Gov. Newsom signs bill repealing doctor-muzzling COVID misinformation law he signed a year ago . Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  24. Web site: 2023-12-05 . Tech-focused lawmaker launches campaign for Silicon Valley House seat . 2024-01-17 . POLITICO . en.
  25. Web site: Every vote counts in Silicon Valley, where two congressional candidates literally tied for second place. April 3, 2024. Wick, Julia. Los Angeles Times.
  26. Web site: Sheyner . Gennady . 2024-04-03 . Three to go to Congressional general election in November . 2024-04-04 . Palo Alto Online . en-US.
  27. News: Kadah . Jana . Mysterious Silicon Valley poll in congressional race could signal recount . April 10, 2024 . San José Spotlight . April 8, 2024.
  28. News: Marzorati . Guy . Requests for Recount Could Upend Silicon Valley Race for Congress . April 10, 2024 . KQED . April 9, 2024.
  29. News: . April 10, 2024 . Tied California House race heading to a recount. April 9, 2024 . Taylor, Sarah . Korte, Lara .
  30. News: Hase . Grace . Congressional Recount: Evan Low heads to November election as Joe Simitian is knocked off the ballot . May 1, 2024 . The Mercury News . May 1, 2024.
  31. Web site: Evan Low to run in new Assembly district. December 27, 2021. December 30, 2021. Hase. Grace. Mercury News.
  32. Web site: Evan Low | Asian Pacific American Political Database | Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies . 2013-04-24 . dead . https://archive.today/20130703165609/http://www.apaics.org/index.php/resources/representative_profile/Evan_Low_CA . 2013-07-03 .
  33. News: Elias . Jennifer . New Campbell mayor credits much of his success to SJSU . Spartan Daily . . 2010-02-04 . 2015-06-24 . Low said he was rejected from every major college he applied. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202144829/http://spartandaily.com/50199/new-campbell-mayor-credits-much-of-his-success-to-sjsu . 2014-02-02 .
  34. Web site: Low Named 2017 Legislator of the Year by Tech Association. 15 March 2017.
  35. Web site: CFA honors legislators dedicated to helping protect, propel higher education in the state - California Faculty Association . www.calfac.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160211105534/http://www.calfac.org/news-release/cfa-honors-legislators-dedicated-helping-protect-propel-higher-education-state . 2016-02-11.
  36. Web site: Political Spotlight: Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) FACCC . www.faccc.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711062240/http://www.faccc.org/blog/2015/07/10/political-spotlight-assemblymember-evan-low-d-campbell/ . 2015-07-11.