National, Local Leaders Call on Evan Low’s to Stop Breaking the Law
Leaders Say Low is “Cheating” and “Violating Election Laws” in Silicon Valley Congressional Contest
SAN JOSE, CA — National and local leaders have called on California Assemblymember Evan Low to stop his illegal use of a $1.6 million state committee, funded by big oil, big pharma, PG&E, and other corporations not permitted to give to federal races, to boost his Congressional campaign in CA-16. Low, who’s running against former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo to represent the Silicon Valley District, is currently facing two Federal Elections Commission complaints, and is the subject of two open investigations from the Fair Political Practices Commission. This comes after the Mercury News called on voters to “Reject Low’s disregard for election integrity” in a recent editorial.
Nine Congressional leaders, including the leader of the largest Democratic caucus in the House, as well as the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, all signed onto a letter calling on Low to stop his illegal spending, delivered to Low’s Deputy Campaign Manager Lam Nguyen at Low’s campaign office yesterday morning.
“This issue is of utmost importance and your continuation will demonstrate your unfitness for the office,” the letter reads. “Such actions threaten the very foundation of the Federal Election Campaign Act and jeopardize the integrity of our federal elections. We urge you to immediately stop these activities at once, and to refund from your Federal Account the total of these activities.”
The full list of Congressional signers includes Nanette Barragán, Linda Sánchez, Ann McLane Kuster, Salud Carbajal, Tony Cárdenas, Gil Cisneros, Sharice Davids, Scott Peters, and Brad Schneider.
A coalition of local leaders called on Low’s endorsers to reconsider their support during a press conference outside the Registrar of Voters in Santa Clara County yesterday.
“Voters need to know that the ads they’re seeing on TV today are illegally paid for, to the tune of $1.6 million,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said. “Assemblymember, I say stop the illegal campaign spending, respect the people you hope to serve, be the leader our community needs.
“Evan Low is cheating. Evan Low is undermining the integrity of this election for Congress,” San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller said. “Today I’m calling on Evan Low to cease using his state assembly funds to pay for TV ads that reach voters in San Mateo County.
“As the longest serving elected official in Santa Clara County, I urge other regional leaders to reconsider their support for Evan based upon his disgraceful lack of integrity in the unethical and illegal misuse of funds for his own political benefit,” Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone said.
“ It is shameful that Evan Low is using big oil, big pharma, and private prison corporation contributions to illegally influence this election,” former State Senator Jerry Hill said. “I call on all leaders to condemn this illegal action.”
“The law is very clear here. Corporations can not contribute to federal congressional campaigns. Period. That’s the law, and every candidate knows it,” Liccardo said. “I call on Evan Low to do the bare minimum of every citizen of this country: follow the law.“
WATCH THE FULL CONFERENCE HERE