Evan Low

Dec 14, 20244 min read

By Caitlynn Sue 11/12/2024

This election cycle, California Assemblyman Evan Low ran to represent the state’s 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. It may be hard to imagine Low as an inexperienced high schooler, yet years ago, he was much like any other teenager: trying to find his passion while navigating academic pressures. In fact, Low is a member of the Leland class of 2001, as well as an alumnus of Bret Harte Middle School and Los Alamitos Elementary School.

Low’s family never encouraged him to become a politician, but rather stressed a more traditional route like a doctor or lawyer. Still, Low felt drawn to community service, becoming vice president of Leland’s Key Club and participating in many volunteering events. While taking AP Government and Politics with Joe Moura, Social Studies Department, Low’s desire to pursue a political career truly took hold. Moura instilled in him the conviction that if one is upset about something in society, they should participate in politics to advocate for change. Additionally, Moura’s class gave Low the opportunity to take a two-week trip to Washington D.C., providing him with a first-hand experience of politics in real life.

“After returning from his D.C. experience, Evan asked me if he could give a presentation to my new students. He arrived at my class with a big duffel bag filled with candy and explained his experience interning in D.C., asking students government-related questions and throwing candy to those who answered correctly. That’s when I knew Evan was a born leader. Although I helped foster his love for government, he already had the motivation and drive to become a politician,” Moura said.

Although Low lost the Congressional race for District 16 to former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, his journey as a politician has been one of a trailblazer. Low began his political career when he was elected to a position on the Campbell City Council in 2006. In 2010, Low was then elected mayor of Campbell, becoming the youngest openly gay mayor in the United States. In 2014, Low also became the youngest Asian American in the California State Assembly after he was elected to represent state District 26—which includes San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino and Sunnyvale.

After making progress for representation in numerous government positions, Low has leveraged his platform to advocate for the rights of underrepresented groups. He helped write Proposition 3, which enshrines protections on marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples in the California Constitution, ensuring that these rights are safeguarded even if federal law changes.

“When I ran for office, you could not get married, donate blood or serve in the army if you were LGBTQ+. Fast forward to today, and we have protections in place to prevent this kind of discrimination. That is why I talk very proudly about the importance of representation for all communities. I proposed Proposition 3, and California voters passed it by close to 61% in November, which I'm very excited about,” Low said.

Low’s other policy directives have included lowering the high cost of living within Silicon Valley and increasing funding for public education. He finds education particularly important as it can transform lives and help lift students out of poverty—these beliefs, he says, are partly attributed to him growing up in public schools. Since he was first elected to the California State Assembly, Low says that he has helped increase annual public education funding from $11,145 to over $20,000 per student.

“Our educational system is the great equity equalizer to help uplift everyday people out of poverty. No matter where you live, you should have the opportunity to receive a quality education,” Low said.

Low encourages students interested in pursuing a career in politics to just go for it, despite what others may say. He is convinced of the power of young people to tackle issues and hold the government accountable. This legacy lives on at the school with current student Senior Golsa Sadrieh, who had the opportunity to volunteer as a student intern for Low's campaign.

“My role included many interesting parts, such as contacting and maintaining connections with donors, elected officials who endorsed Evan and leaders across the state. I would knock door to door across the county and ask voters if they had a minute to talk about this really imperative Congressional race. Learning to converse with voters in a non confrontational and open-minded way definitely polished my communication skills. I am not sure about pursuing a career in politics, but I am definitely interested in remaining in the political sphere and being civically engaged,” said Sadrieh.

Regardless of career goals, Low believes it is critical for everyone to participate in community events and voice their opinions, cultivating a lifelong journey of active citizenship.

“What will you do to make sure that you are holding the government accountable and tackling issues such as existential climate change, affordability or women’s rights? If we do not have younger people civically engaged, we just allow the system to continue, and we can not let that happen,” Low said.

About the Contributors

Caitlynn Sue

Writer

Caitlynn Sue is a Junior at Leland High School and a page editor for journalism. This is her second year in journalism and she loves writing and eating snacks during print night. Outside of journalism, she enjoys baking, violin, and dance.