In California‘s 16th Congressional District, the general election will be between two candidates, not three, after a recount broke a tie between the two second-place finishers.
Democratic candidates Evan Low and Joe Simitian had tied for second place behind Democrat Sam Liccardo, leading to a potential — and unusual — three-way race in November if the results held up, but the result was overturned after a recount was requested by a registered voter in Santa Clara County.
Both candidates had garnered 30,249 votes across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, but after a recount in Santa Clara County, Low gained 11 votes and Simitian gained only seven. Officials announced the updated results on Tuesday.
“Our elections staff has been working diligently for the past two weeks to conduct this unprecedented
recount and ensure that the final results are complete and accurate,” Assistant Registrar of
Voters in Santa Clara County Matt Morales said in a statement. “This is the largest and most complex recount we have conducted, as well as our first machine recount on our new voting system.”
“It is not unusual for a recount to change the vote totals, especially in such a large jurisdiction,” he added. “Because this contest was so close with two candidates precisely tied for second place,
even tiny changes can make a difference in the outcome.”
With the tie broken, Low will advance to the general election in November against Liccardo. Because California’s primary system allows the top two candidates regardless of party to advance, the general election for the deep blue seat — currently held by retiring Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) — will be between two Democrats.
Low described the recount process as “character building” and said he is “very excited” by the result in a statement on Wednesday.
My team and I knew that succeeding the esteemed Anna Eshoo would be challenging, so we see a race ending in a tie followed by a recount as character building for your next representative in Congress.
We are very excited that my advancement into the general election was…
— Evan Low (@Evan_Low) May 1, 2024
“My team and I knew that succeeding the esteemed Anna Eshoo would be challenging, so we see a race ending in a tie followed by a recount as character building for your next representative in Congress. We are very excited that my advancement into the general election was reaffirmed and I now look forward to the real work of tackling the big issues facing our country like reproductive freedom and affordability,” Low said in a statement.
He also thanked workers at the Registrar of Voters, along with commending Simitian for his “decades of public service” which inspired him. Simitian also released a statement, accepting the results and saying he is “disappointed” but not sad.
“The good news is the 16th congressional district’s long painful exercise counting the votes is over! The not-so-good news: we have come up short. I lost, and I concede. I trust the process, and I accept the result,” Simitian said. “I am disappointed, but not sad.”
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“I want to congratulate Assemblymember Evan Low and former Mayor Sam Liccardo. I have spoken to them both to wish them well. I look forward to the lively campaign they will undoubtedly run,” he added.
The Cook Political Report has rated the race as “solid Democrat,” with the district holding a partisan voting index of Democratic +26.
