Gavin Newsom intervenes in hotly contested congressional race as Election Day nears
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NEWSOM PUTS HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE IN CA-16
While it won’t impact the balance of power in Congress, the race for California’s 16th Congressional District (which covers much of Silicon Valley, including parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties) is nevertheless one race to watch this coming Tuesday.
It pits two Democrats — Assemblyman Evan Low and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo — in a fiercely contested rivalry to fill the seat being vacated by the retiring Rep. Anna Eshoo.
With Election Day just days away, Low’s campaign has received a bit of deus ex machina in the form of an endorsement from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. That’s a weighty endorsement with the potential to tip the scales in what could be a very close race to represent Silicon Valley in Congress.
“Evan Low embodies the very best of California’s values. We have worked shoulder-to-shoulder on some of our state’s most pressing issues, from protecting reproductive rights to tackling affordability for California families. Evan’s proven track record of delivering for Bay Area families makes him exactly the kind of representative CD-16 voters deserve in Washington; I am proud to endorse his bid for Congress,” Newsom said in a statement.
Recall that in the March jungle primary, no candidate received a majority of the vote. While Liccardo took home 21.1% of the vote to Low’s 16.6%, 62% of voters voted for other candidates in that primary. That’s a lot of votes that are now up for grabs in the two-way general election.
Low was quick to tout Newsom’s support on Tuesday, in a statement provided to The Bee by Click Strategies, which also represents Newsom’s campaign.
“I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honored to have the endorsement of Governor Gavin Newsom. Over the past five years, I’ve been proud to stand by his side, tackling California’s biggest challenges — from affordable housing and supporting middle-class families to protecting our democracy. His leadership and vision for California have been an inspiration. Now, together, let’s make history!” Low said.
While it remains to be seen whether Newsom weighing in puts Low over the top, Liccardo’s camp responded this week by pointing to his own high-profile endorsements, including from both the current and former Assembly leadership, current Speaker Robert Rivas and Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, both of whom worked with Low in that chamber and yet sided with Liccardo.
Liccardo campaign spokesman Gil Rubinstein said in a statement, “Sam is endorsed by the Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo Daily Journal, Palo Alto Daily Post, hundreds of local leaders, and those who know Assemblymember Low best, including the Speaker of the Assembly, Speaker Emeritus, and the Assemblymember who represents this Congressional district in Sacramento. These leaders know Sam will actually deliver results for our community, not just empty rhetoric.”
CALIFORNIA VOTERS FACE AN ONSLAUGHT OF MISINFORMATION, SURVEY SAYS
Many Californians worry that the news they are reading or watching online is false, according to a new survey conducted by Free Press, a D.C.-based group which advocates on the subjects of media and technology.
The organization surveyed 3,000 Americans, including 586 Californians, in partnership with the African American Research Collaborative and BSP Research. While 586 may seem like a relatively small sample size, Free Press said in a statement that they over-sampled Californians “to better understand how people residing in the Golden State engage with news and information and to assess their attitudes toward certain public and corporate policies.”
So what did they find?
While a strong majority (77%) of Californians use TV or radio news for information, 58% use news apps on their smartphones and 59% rely on YouTube. Another 58% use Facebook, 45% use Instagram, 38% use TikTok, 36% use the former Twitter and 23% use Reddit.
Most of those Californians fear they’re getting bad information. The survey found that 81% said that the news they read is either false or a deliberate attempt to confuse. Three quarters said they are concerned about misinformation related to the 2024 presidential election, while nearly half (45%) said they’ve received or encountered news stories containing misinformation or outright falsehoods.
Two-thirds of Californians said that it’s on the social media companies to curb the spread of internet falsehoods, while 65% said it is not acceptable for tech companies to profit from political ads containing false info. Finally, 62% said it is acceptable for those companies to use their platform to block the distribution of ads that use false information or hate speech.
“The Free Press survey shows that Californians are mired in the Wild West of political lies, with three out of four expressing concern about encountering 2024 presidential-election misinformation. There’s a definite role for media and pro-democracy advocates to ensure that news and information better serve the needs of a diverse, multiracial population — in California and across the country,” said Free Press Co-CEO Jessica J. González in a statement.
You can read the survey for yourself by clicking here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Californians should review the Voter Bill of Rights before heading to the polls to ensure a smooth voting experience. I urge voters to take the time to know their rights before heading to the polls.”
- California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, in a statement. You can read the Voter Bill of Rights here.
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This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 4:55 AM.