Sam LiccardoIncumbent
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 16
Sam Liccardo is a Democrat in the U.S. House. He is the incumbent for California's 16th Congressional District. The district spans parts of Silicon Valley. It includes San Jose, Palo Alto, and Mountain View. It also takes in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. He won the seat in November 2024. He took office in January 2025. He is running for another term in 2026. Before Congress, Liccardo served two terms as Mayor of San Jose (2015-2023). He also served on the San Jose City Council. He held its District 3 seat (2007-2015). Earlier, he worked as a criminal prosecutor in the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office. His cases included sexual assault and child exploitation. He holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. He earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a master's degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In Congress, he serves on the House Committee on Financial Services. Occupation: U.S. Representative (CA-16); former prosecutor. Prior office: incumbent since January 2025. He was Mayor of San Jose (2015-2022). He served on the San Jose City Council, District 3 (2007-2015).
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Emphasizes reducing cost of living and supports workforce training for AI-driven economic disruption, but has not stated a specific position on minimum wage, labor unions, or tariffs.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Supports restoring the SALT (state and local tax) deduction, tax credits for housing conversion and energy-efficient retrofits, and adjusting capital gains exemptions to address housing costs.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports reducing prescription drug costs through pricing transparency and competition, and favors expanding Medicaid coverage including removing federal restrictions on inpatient psychiatric care.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Has opposed continued federal funding for ICE and signed articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing what he described as unlawful agency conduct; has not stated a position on path to citizenship, DACA, or asylum policy.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Supports federal legislation protecting abortion access prior to fetal viability or when medically necessary, and protecting interstate travel for abortion care.
Source → - Education & Schools
Supports a tax credit for teachers, increased special education funding, and expanded tutoring and community college partnership programs.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports a national red flag/ERPO law, closing background-check loopholes for unlicensed dealers, and extending background checks to ammunition purchases.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
As a former prosecutor, supports 'tough love' parole with frequent drug testing and expanded mental-health/addiction treatment aimed at breaking the cycle between addiction and incarceration, rather than strict punitive sentencing alone.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports a carbon dividend, restricting new drilling and fracking, eliminating oil and gas subsidies, and funding an 'American Climate Corps'; refuses campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry.
Source → - Foreign Policy & Defense
Opposed the FY2027 NDAA defense spending bill as excessive Pentagon funding, supported a War Powers Resolution requiring Congressional approval for U.S. military action regarding Iran, and has worked to expand VASH veterans housing vouchers.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports overturning Citizens United via constitutional amendment and requiring immediate disclosure of super PAC contributions.
Source → - Technology & Privacy
Supports continued AI development with light-touch regulation to maintain U.S. competitiveness with China, favors transparency in AI export-control governance, and supports preserving international student visa pathways (OPT) for tech talent; has not stated a position on data privacy or antitrust/big tech.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.