Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo will beat Assemblymember Evan Low in the Congressional District 16 race, NBC News projected on Wednesday.
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is projected to beat Assemblymember Evan Low in the Congressional District 16 race, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to take anything for granted, while we’re still counting votes and my opponent hasn’t conceded, but we are obviously moving forward to do all we can to hit the ground running,” Liccardo said.
If the results hold and are certified, Liccardo would take over Anna Eshoo’s seat. The congresswoman is retiring after 30 years in the U.S. House. The district includes parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Liccardo said he talked with members of the U.S. House on Wednesday and expects to leave on Monday for meetings in Washington DC.
The former San Jose mayor added he’s primed to take on a trump administration - if needed but also hopes to find common ground.
“So, I'm going to be focused on picking my battles, certainly there are plenty of battles to be had and I'll need to fight when necessary to defend democratic institutions to protect reproductive rights and a host of other things we’ll be fighting over sure," he said. "But I also really want to identify those opportunities to reach across the aisle."
As of Wednesday evening, Low did not conceded yet, saying he’s waiting for all the votes to be counted.
The race was one of the most closely watched among democrats, as low finished the march primary tied for second place with joe Simitian. A recount led to a change of just five votes and sent Low to the general election runoff against Liccardo.
On Wednesday afternoon, Low’s campaign sent us a statement urging patience for his supporters and expressing his gratitude to all supporters and volunteers. He added that “regardless of the outcome of this election, i am committed to fighting for our community's needs and will continue to better the lives of every American.”
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Liccardo said his next step is to build a good team and he can hit the ground running when he is sworn in on Jan. 3.
