Sam Liccardo

Sam Liccardo is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 16th Congressional District since January 2025. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory and earned a Bachelor of Arts in government and economics from Georgetown University in 1991. He subsequently received both a Juris Doctor and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University in 1996. Liccardo began his professional career as a criminal prosecutor in the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and later served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of California. Liccardo's career in local government includes serving on the San Jose City Council from 2007 to 2014, followed by two terms as the 65th Mayor of San Jose from 2015 to 2023. During his mayoral tenure, he led the city to become the first major U.S. municipality to commit to carbon neutrality and spearheaded gun violence prevention policies, including a first-in-the-nation mandate for gun owner liability insurance. He also prioritized the regional housing crisis by securing funding for affordable housing projects and implementing rent relief initiatives during the pandemic. Elected to Congress in November 2024 to succeed Anna Eshoo, Liccardo serves on the House Financial Services Committee and chairs the New Democratic Coalition's Innovation and Technology Working Group. His legislative priorities include an Innovation Agenda to bolster national competitiveness, alongside bipartisan efforts to address housing affordability, lower the cost of living, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Liccardo's policy platform emphasizes economic innovation, housing affordability, and climate resilience. He promotes a pro-innovation agenda to maintain global competitiveness and leverages technology to address gaps in education and workforce skills. On housing, he advocates for increasing the housing supply and addressing the cost-of-living crisis through expanded federal support for affordability programs. His environmental goals include transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy and strengthening community resilience against climate-related disasters such as wildfires. In healthcare, he has co-sponsored legislation to expand Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection and to maintain telehealth flexibilities. Regarding immigration, Liccardo supports protecting DACA recipients and high-skill immigration programs, while advocating for reforms that align with American economic needs.