After what will be 32 years in Congress, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to retire at the end of her term in January 2025. The long-serving Democrat announced Tuesday morning (Nov. 21) that she will not seek re-election in 2024, leaving the seat open for the first time in decades.
“As my last year in Congress approaches, I will continue my work with vigor and unswerving commitment,” Eshoo said in a video statement.
Eshoo, 80, was first elected to Congress as representative of the 14th District in 1992, the first woman and first Democrat to win the seat. She was later elected to represent the 18th District after redistricting, and now serves the 16th, which covers a large swath of Silicon Valley, including Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View.
Despite criticism from both ends of the political spectrum for being the No. 1 career recipient of pharmaceutical corporation money in Congress, Eshoo has remained popular among voters throughout her career, consistently capturing 60-70% of the vote in each of her biannual elections until the 2022 election, when challenger Rishi Kumar captured a little more of her share but did not gain enough momentum to win the seat.
Amid news of Eshoo’s retirement, Kumar, a former Saratoga City Council member, is already on the campaign trail and told the Town Crier that his campaign “never stopped after the November 2022 election.” However, he is likely to be overshadowed by some of the more established politicians eyeing the seat. Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, 70, has been open about considering a run for years, but he previously said he would not run against Eshoo. He did form a congressional campaign committee, Friends of Simitian, in 2009, which currently has approximately $680,000 cash on hand after nearly 14 years of collecting donations. Simitian indicated that he would formally announce his candidacy next week.
State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents cities along the Peninsula including Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View, is also in talks to run for the seat, along with Assemblymember Evan Low and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, according to the San José Spotlight.
“The timing (of the announcement), I think is propitious – this is someone who has given their heart and soul to public service in our area for decades now,” Simitian told the Town Crier. “I know everybody wants to talk politics and what comes next, but I’ve tried to encourage folks to take a minute to say thank you to our friend, Anna, who’s been doing really extraordinary work for us for 30-plus years now in Congress.”
Los Altos City Council member Neysa Fligor was eager to make an early endorsement of Simitian’s campaign, noting that there is “no one better to carry on her legacy at this time.”
Serving Los Altos and beyond
The end of this term will mark the end of Eshoo’s 16th term in office. Over three decades on Capitol Hill, she appears to have remained consistent in her values, voting similarly on issues including abortion access, LGBTQ rights and health care throughout her career. She serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is a member of a number of congressional caucuses, including the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, the Internet Caucus and the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus.
During Eshoo’s tenure, 66 of her bills were signed into law by five presidents, despite spending the majority of her time in the seat in the minority party. Some of the most recent approved legislation included six health-related laws enacted within the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023; the Safe Connections Act, which helps domestic violence survivors disconnect from cellphone plans shared with their abusers; and an act that bolsters domestic production of semiconductors.
Eshoo spent considerable time attending events back in the Bay Area, speaking at the 2022 Los Altan of the Year dinner honoring Roy and Penny Lave, serving as master of ceremonies for Los Altos Stage Company’s “Follies” fundraiser and participating in the blessing of a new building at St. Francis High School.
“For three decades you’ve given me your trust, and I’ve given every fiber of my being to live up to this sacred trust in every way possible,” Eshoo said to her constituents.
