The race to represent California’s 16th Congressional District long held by Anna Eshoo officially ended in a tie for second place, likely sending three candidates to the November runoff, rather than two. A voter can request a recount within five days of the results being certified.
The election results were certified Thursday by the Santa Clara County registrar of voters and San Mateo County chief elections officer. The district includes portions of both counties.
“Every election is as important as the next,” said Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey. “Our passionate and dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure fair, inclusive, accurate, and transparent elections. The results of this election exemplify why your vote truly matters,” Bushey said.
Former San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo received the most votes in the March 5 primary, but Assemblymember Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian finished in a dead heat.
“Sometimes it takes a while for democracy to work. This has been one of those times. Call it a cliffhanger, a rollercoaster, a wild ride — but it has absolutely been worth the wait.” Joe Simitian, posting on X
There were 557,232 ballots cast in the primary overall in the two counties, but only 182,135 votes in the race for the 16th congressional district. The overall turnout rate was 38.5 percent, but only about 12 percent of registered voters voted in the congressional primary.
Liccardo received 31,535 votes in Santa Clara County and 6,928 in San Mateo County, for a combined 38,489 votes, or about 21 percent of the votes in the contest.
Low received 25,082 votes in Santa Clara County and 5,167 in San Mateo County, for a total of 30,249 votes, more than 16 percent.
Simitian recorded 23,768 votes in Santa Clara County and 6,481 in San Mateo County, also finishing with 30,249 votes.
‘Every vote really counts’
Low said he was honored to be sent to the general election. He thanked his supporters, contributors, volunteers, and even fellow candidates, who he said had contributed to a “thoughtful campaign.”
“This historically close race shows that every vote really counts,” Low wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I could not have made it this far without every one of you, and I hope to earn your support once again in November.”
Simitian likewise thanked his supporters in a statement after the vote was certified, as well as the vote counters.
“This is what a functioning democracy looks like. Every vote is counted and every vote counts,” Simitian said. “Sometimes it takes a while for democracy to work. This has been one of those times. Call it a cliffhanger, a rollercoaster, a wild ride — but it has absolutely been worth the wait,” he said.
Eschoo has held the seat since she was first elected in 1992. She announced in December that she would not seek another term.