Posted on 11/21/2023 10:36:32 AM PST by nickcarraway
For the first time in two decades, a Silicon Valley congressmember is poised to retire and shake up the South Bay’s political landscape — with many local Democrats reportedly eyeing the seat.
Multiple sources in Sacramento and Silicon Valley told San José Spotlight that Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to end her three-decade congressional career at the end of her term in 2024. Sources said the official announcement is coming in a matter of weeks.
Eshoo, who earned notoriety for spearheading cybersecurity, innovation and high-tech legislation, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 after serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for a decade.
Her retirement marks a monumental shift in Silicon Valley politics. Eshoo is a powerhouse politician who rose through the ranks as a senior member earning coveted committee assignments in Washington on health care, energy and commerce. As news spread about Eshoo’s decision to call it quits late Monday, speculation circled about who will run for the competitive seat to represent District 16.
The district includes a large swath of Santa Clara County, including parts of San Jose, and San Mateo County.
Candidates rumored for the seat include California Sen. Josh Becker, Assemblymember Evan Low, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Becker said Silicon Valley should take a moment to appreciate Eshoo and her distinguished career before rushing to replace her. He is still weighing his options, sources told San José Spotlight. The first-term legislator would have to vacate his seat in Sacramento to make the leap.
Becker said late Monday he has “tremendous respect” for the veteran congressmember.
“She is a combination we’ve never seen before of warmth, strength and effectiveness,” the senator told San José Spotlight. “She’s so hard working, and with the utmost integrity and love of America and our institutions. Let’s take a moment to celebrate her years of service before we rush to find her successor.”
Simitian also praised Eshoo’s accomplishments. He has not been shy about his intentions to run for Congress.
“We ought to take some time to say thank you to Anna Eshoo for tremendous service throughout the course of her career,” Simitian said. “The attention ought to be on Anna and her contributions to the region.”
Eshoo did not respond to a request for comment late Monday.
Simitian said a “formal announcement” about his candidacy is coming soon. San José Spotlight reported the longtime supervisor had launched a campaign committee to explore a congressional run more than a decade ago and raised about $600,000 as of December.
Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna called Eshoo a personal mentor. He said she encouraged him to run for office after he campaigned against the Iraq war in 2003.
“She also helped me build a relationship with Speaker Pelosi. It’s an incredible loss for the Bay Area,” Khanna told San José Spotlight. “Anna will be remembered for helping shape the innovation agenda for the Democratic Party, securing funding for research and development, and being helping in Speaker Pelosi’s rise and tenure as her closest confidant.”
Khanna added that Eshoo’s departure underscores the need for the generation of fresh leadership from Silicon Valley.
Former Congressman Mike Honda told San José Spotlight he heard about Eshoo’s planned retirement late Monday. The news caught him by surprise, he said.
“She’s been successful at the local and state level as Zoe and myself had been,” Honda said. “It was a situation where she wants to figure out if she wants to spend another two years in Congress with the crazy leadership.”
Eshoo, 80, is of Assyrian and Armenian heritage. She joined other congressional leaders this month to call on Israel to implement a temporary humanitarian pause in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The pause would minimize harm and enable aid to reach civilians, she said.
“We share Secretary Blinken’s view that a humanitarian pause is a ‘critical mechanism for protecting civilians while enabling Israel to achieve its objective of defeating Hamas,'” Eshoo and her colleagues said in a statement.
Among other accomplishments, Eshoo has championed efforts to defend consumers, promote clean energy technology and protect the environment.
3 decades on the public teat?
(((sigh)))
“notoriety”?
‘3 decades on the public teat?
(((sigh)))” Asteat! a mentor, Eshoo taught other demos how to get on the public teat!”
“Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna called Eshoo a personal mentor. He said she encouraged him to run for office after he campaigned against the Iraq war in 2003.
“She also helped me build a relationship with Speaker Pelosi. It’s an incredible loss for the Bay Area,” Khanna told San José Spotlight. “Anna will be remembered for helping shape the innovation agenda for the Democratic Party, securing funding for research and development, and being helping in Speaker Pelosi’s rise and tenure as her closest confidant.”
Anna Eshoo is still around?
I recall she and Barbara Boxer used to be political chums.
I just know Anna has heard more than enough childish
‘sneeze’ jokes in her lifetime. Ahhh-Shooo!
Rule of thumb: when an old Democrat retires from a slam-dunk liberal district, the replacement will be someone even worse than the incumbent.
It didn’t always used to be that way, but it sure is now.
I don’t doubt it.
Gesundheit!
When I was working in Palo Alto, my employer had a political action committee. I can remember being asked to donate. The donations were going to Eshoo.
Funny, I can't name a single one of her "accomplishments".
This will be a feeding frenzy for Silicon Valley plutocrats.
One seat in Congress for sale.
I hear one million dollars.
Yes. One million dollars.
Do I hear two million. two million....
Yes. Three million. three million...
Excellent. Four million. Remember this is a very important seat and proceeds go to your favorite charity—a Congress critter that you will own.....
Yes. Five million....
Eshoo spent approximately $2,000,000 in 2022 and 2020.
The 2024 matchup will be between a pair of Democrats, with the chances of any Republican making it to the general election being quite remote.
The two Democrats will be ultra-liberal Rishi Kumar vs. ultra-liberal Joe Simitian. Simitian is way ahead in fundraising but a Hindu running in the mother of all Big Liberal Tech districts will catch up. Total spending here may exceed $4 million by next November.
Funny, I can’t name a single one of her “accomplishments”.
If you could name any of her “accomplishments” I bet it wouldn’t at all “Funny.”
This will be a feeding frenzy for Silicon Valley plutocrats.
One seat in Congress for sale.
30 years in Congress. Left her district, her state and her country in infinitely worse shape than she found it in. Disgusting, despicable and evil.
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