Follow the money: Silicon Valley’s 2024 general election

Candidates have raised millions of dollars across many contentious races to represent Silicon Valley, on national, state and local stages.

The most anticipated race is in Congress, for who will represent Congressional District 16 following Rep. Anna Eshoo’s retirement . After a crowded March primary election, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo came out on top, with a tie for second between Assemblymember Evan Low and Supervisor Joe Simitian .

A controversial voter recount requested by a former supporter of Liccardo’s and funded by a newly created super PAC knocked Simitian off the November ballot. Now, the race is between Liccardo and Low. As of the July quarterly filings, Liccardo has raised a collective total of $4,338,802.71 and Low has raised a collective total of $2,489,160.71 for their November campaigns.

Congressional District 16 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. The race was already boasting millions of dollars before the March primary, with candidates spending big on polling, mailers and TV and digital ads.

Super PACs sank more than $2 million into the race ahead of the primary election and the six that have spent to support Liccardo and Low still have cash on hand. Five are supporting Low and have spent a combined $855,000 on the race, with donors to the largest spender being PG&E and the California Apartment Association. Liccardo’s sole supporting super PAC has spent about $516,000 and received half a million dollars from New York philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, with whom Liccardo shares a history of support .

Closer to home, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board President Patrick Ahrens and Santa Clara County Board of Education Member Tara Sreekrishnan are competing to see who will fill Low’s seat in California Assembly District 26. In Santa Clara County, two Board of Supervisor seats are up for grabs and almost half of the San Jose City Council will be on the ballot.

San José Spotlight is following the money this election season and will update these trackers regularly. More trackers will be added after the financial filing deadline for state and local races.

Last updated July 15

Congressional District 16

Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at sakura@sanjosespotlight.com or @SakuCannestra on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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