First Woman Jumps into Silicon Valley Congressional Race
Originally published by Jana Kadah for the San Jose Spotlight
The first woman has entered an already contested congressional race to replace Rep. Anna Eshoo in District 16.
Palo Alto Councilmember Julie Lythcott-Haims officially announced her candidacy to fill the seat amid Eshoo’s plans to retire at the end of her term. Lythcott-Haims is a progressive candidate with a mission to advocate for all residents, noting she brings a different perspective as a Black and queer woman.
Lythcott-Haims said her top priorities are affordable housing, youth mental health, climate change and the preservation of reproductive health care rights, voter rights and the right to choose who to love.
“Representation matters. I’m a woman, I’m Black, I’m queer, and I’m a parent,” Lythcott-Haims told San José Spotlight. “We’ve been lucky in the Bay Area to have such an incredible legacy of female leadership. In the post Roe era, why would we replace a female leader with a man?”
She said she fells gratitude toward Eshoo and wondering who could fill her big shoes.
“As that question began to be answered, I couldn’t help but ask why aren’t women running?,” Lythcott-Haims said. “So having looked left and right, I finally looked straight ahead in the mirror.”
Lythcott-Haims, 56, enters a race filled with well-known and formidable politicos like Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, Assemblymember Evan Low and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Former Saratoga Mayor Rishi Kumar, climate investor Joby Bernstein, and veteran Peter Dixon are also in the race. Former Menlo Park Mayor Peter Ohtaki and candidate Karl Ryan—the only Republicans in the race — are also running for the seat.
California’s 16th District covers parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties including Los Altos, Campbell, Los Gatos, Mountain View and parts of San Jose and unincorporated communities.