Friday night saw a fiery debate between congressional candidates Sam Liccardo and Evan Low in a televised showdown hosted by NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48, and KQED. This event was a significant moment in the intensifying battle for the House seat in California’s 16th District, as both Democratic candidates have been openly criticizing each other for months through various media, online platforms, allies, and supporters.
During the one-hour debate, Liccardo and Low tackled a range of pressing issues, including the conflict between Israel and Hamas, immigration, homelessness, crime, and technology policies. Whenever the opportunity arose, both candidates took jabs at each other, highlighting their past achievements and endorsements in a bid to win over voters.
Liccardo accused Low of improper campaign practices, claiming he misused state campaign funds for federal elections. He pointed out that Low is currently under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission for halting the disclosure of donors linked to a nonprofit associated with his California legislative task force on technology.
In response, Low repeatedly criticized Liccardo’s record on public safety, citing the departure of 500 police officers during his tenure. Liccardo defended himself by stating that San Jose actually gained 200 police officers after he took office as mayor.
Low countered by asserting that Liccardo still owes the city 300 police officers and mentioned that he has the backing of the police union, noting that his brother, a police officer, was among the audience. He also reminded viewers that Liccardo supported pension reforms and cuts to police staffing during his time in the San Jose City Council and as mayor.
Liccardo pointed out that Low’s support from the police union stems from his 2018 decision to block a police reform bill that would have made records of police misconduct publicly available. Low maintained that he stands by his decision.
“When officers commit crimes such as sexual assault, excessive force, or theft, the public has the right to know,” Liccardo asserted.
Both candidates expressed support for increasing immigration while also backing stronger border security. When asked if they would advocate changing President Biden’s immigration policies, Low quoted Vice President Kamala Harris with a firm “no,” while Liccardo critiqued the Biden administration for its slow response to the border crisis.
Low endorsed comprehensive immigration reform at the national level, mentioning the challenges faced by undocumented agricultural workers in Half Moon Bay. He emphasized the need for reform that addresses high-skilled workers as well.
The candidates exchanged barbs over housing and homelessness issues. Liccardo claimed Low has not done enough in the California legislature to address these challenges, while Low accused Liccardo of allowing homelessness to spiral out of control during his mayoral tenure.
Liccardo supports removing barriers to Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, while Low argued for stronger auditing and accountability of spending on homelessness services and insisted that cities need to be responsible for building sufficient affordable housing.
Low also criticized Liccardo for failing to meet California’s housing goal of 13,128 units during his mayoral term. “Low has shown zero leadership on homelessness,” Liccardo shot back.
The debate also touched on Proposition 36, a statewide measure aimed at increasing penalties for drug and retail theft crimes. Low opposed the measure, citing a reluctance to return to the era of mass incarceration. In contrast, Liccardo supported it, arguing that “arresting people doesn’t equate to incarcerating them.”
Given that California’s 16th District is heavily influenced by the tech sector, the two candidates found common ground in this area. Both expressed support for stronger online privacy protections, particularly for children, and advocated for safeguarding jobs threatened by automation.
“If we establish a private sector standard—the best standard—as a baseline for accountability, we can achieve a lot,” Liccardo stated.
This debate was initially scheduled for October 2 but was postponed due to Liccardo suffering from laryngitis.
