Evan Low to seek a seat in redrawn District 26
After redrawn boundaries forced him into the same district as another legislator, Assemblyman Evan Low has decided to move down the road to run in a newly formed district instead of facing off against a colleague.
As a result, Low’s reelection bid in 2022 will be launched from District 26, which the California Citizens Redistricting Commission created to account for population shifts reflected in this year’s census.
Low said Dec. 27 his decision to not run against Assemblyman Marc Berman stems from a “deep sense of friendship and trust among colleagues.”
Last week, the commission finalized maps for the new state assembly, state senate, board of equalization and congressional districts as part of the redistricting process, which happens every decade following the U.S. Census. The secretary of state was set to certify the new districts Monday.
But the maps put Berman and Low, who have served in the Assembly since 2016 and 2014, respectively, in the same district — giving them the option to run against each other or move into a new district. While Low’s current district was divided up, Berman’s district that stretches up the Peninsula will largely remain the same.
District 26 will encompass Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara and a small part of San Jose. Meanwhile, Campbell and Saratoga will be added to District 24, which otherwise largely remains the same and encompasses cities from Sunnyvale/ Cupertino up to Atherton on the Peninsula and Half Moon Bay on the coast.
“This is home to me,” Low, who lives in Campbell, told this news organization. “I went to college at De Anza, my district office is in Cupertino and it’s one where it makes no sense for two friends to run against each other.”
Low said he hopes his move will serve as an example of how two people can work things out.
Last Thursday, Low tweeted out a video with Berman captioned “I’ve got my eyes on you @ Marc-Berman.” In the video, the pair hit each other with pillows, which Low described as the only “way to settle a fight.”
Berman responded to the tweet, “bring it on @ Evan_Low! You’re lucky those were down pillows.”
Low said he will miss representing Campbell, where he served as mayor and on the city council from 2006 to 2014, but added the city will be “well represented” by Berman.
Berman announced his re-election bid Monday afternoon, and expressed his sadness over not being able to represent Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks and Sunnyvale if he’s re-elected.
“It has been a tremendous honor to represent the constituents of these communities over the last five years, and I look forward to my final year as their assemblymember,” Berman wrote in a tweet.