Bridging San Jose’s East-West political divide likely holds key to victory in fall mayoral race

EIGHT YEARS AGO, progressive San Jose mayoral candidate Dave Cortese lost his bid to the business-backed Sam Liccardo, despite an overwhelming win in the primary election with support from East San Jose.

Liccardo pulled ahead of Cortese, now a state senator, in November 2014 to become the city’s 65th mayor. His narrow win was secured by a resounding victory in West San Jose, a more affluent area of the city. Liccardo, who terms out this year, won the mayor’s race by just 2,750 votes.