BIOGUIDE L000607 · FEC H4CA16197
Sam Liccardo
U.S. Representative for California's 16th Congressional District (since 2025); previously Mayor of San Jose (2015-2023)DINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · California's 16th Congressional District
- Result
- Sam Liccardo, projected winner
- Opponent
- Peter Soule (R)
- Research
- Basic
Party line16 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did7 statements · 16 votes
I cosponsored measures to eliminate tariffs
Broad tariffs on imported goods
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 16
2026-11-03
| Sam Liccardo D | incumbent |
| Peter Soule R | challenger |
Won the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with about 76% of the vote.
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Led or co-led four bills included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which his office describes as the most significant federal housing reform package in more than 30 years, including the BUILD Housing Act and the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act.
Documented position[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
I cosponsored measures to eliminate tariffs
In his Candidate Connection survey he says he cosponsored measures to eliminate tariffs and supported efforts to eliminate tariffs he describes as price-inflating.[6]
- YESResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[7]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
I will continue fighting to defend your reproductive rights and voting rights, and to protect funding for Social Security, MediCal, and CalFresh
In his Candidate Connection survey he says he will continue fighting to defend reproductive rights.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
I introduced the only bipartisan ACA tax credit extension that lowers health premiums while saving taxpayer dollars
In his Candidate Connection survey he says he introduced a bipartisan extension of the ACA tax credits and will work to protect Medi-Cal funding.[6]
I am leading legislation to incentivize renewables and batteries for data centers
In his Candidate Connection survey he says he is leading legislation to incentivize renewables and batteries for data centers.[6]
Cosponsored H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.
Documented position[11]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 40 (119th Congress), a War Powers Resolution measure directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities not authorized by Congress. Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 64 (119th Congress), directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela not authorized by Congress. Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 68 (119th Congress), directing the removal of U.S. forces from Venezuela not authorized by Congress.
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[15]
- YESWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[16]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[18]
Biography
Sam Liccardo is the Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 16th Congressional District, which runs from Half Moon Bay and Pacifica through Silicon Valley, including San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View, and won re-election on November 3, 2026. A former prosecutor, San Jose City Council member and two-term mayor of San Jose, he was first elected to Congress in 2024 and sits on the House Financial Services Committee.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Liccardo was born on April 16, 1970. According to his Ballotpedia survey he grew up in the district he now represents, and Ballotpedia lists Bellarmine College Preparatory as his high school.[2][3] He earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1991, and a law degree and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School, both in 1996.[3][1] Liccardo worked as a prosecutor of sexual assault and child exploitation crimes in the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California; in his Ballotpedia survey he also lists college professor among his past roles.[1][3]
He was elected to the San Jose City Council (District 3) in 2006, served from 2007 to 2015 and won re-election in 2010. He was elected mayor of San Jose in November 2014 and re-elected in 2018, serving two terms through 2022.[3][2] His House website says San Jose committed to carbon neutrality, expanded community-based policing and launched its largest rent relief program during his tenure.[1]
Liccardo won the open U.S. House seat in November 2024, defeating fellow Democrat Evan Low to succeed Anna Eshoo, and took office in 2025.[3] He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and chairs the New Democratic Coalition's Innovation & Technology Working Group; his House website says he led the New Dems' first Innovation Agenda in July 2025.[1] According to his House website, he and his wife, Jessica Garcia-Kohl, a nonprofit leader, live in Saratoga.[1] His campaign materials emphasized housing, lowering the cost of living, and bipartisan legislation.[1][3] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 77.2% of the vote to Peter Soulé's 22.8%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News, with 66.9% of votes counted.[4]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | Against partyvoted no | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 16 votes.
All 16 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | Against partyvoted no | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted no | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | Against partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted no | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted no | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted no | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted no | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- bill2026-07-13 · Authored the BUILD Housing Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, the RESIDE Act, and the Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act, all included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that became law on July 13, 2026.[5]
- bill2026-04-21 · Introduced the bipartisan Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act with Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) to modernize payment-processing access and reduce consumer fees.[5]
- actionAssigned to the House Committee on Financial Services in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[19]
- actionServed on the San Jose City Council and as mayor of San Jose from 2015 to 2023.[19]
In their own words
Priorities
- Campaign site lists making housing more affordable, reducing the cost of living, and protecting rights and democracy as his core priorities.[20]
- Launched "Innovation for Good" (I4G), an effort he describes as building a pragmatic, pro-innovation Democratic majority in Congress by leveraging technology to address national challenges.[20]
Campaign money$3.5M raised · 69% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $1.5M
- PACs & committees $663K
Largest committee contributions
- Ernst & Young Political Action Committee PAC$15K
- Western Alliance Bancorporation Political Action Committee (Wabpac) PAC$10K
- New York Life Insurance Company Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Investment Company Institute Political Action Committee (ICI PAC) PAC$10K
- Cisco Systems, Inc. Federal PAC PAC$10K
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American Crystal Sugar Company Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Blackrock Funds Services Group LLC Political Action Committee (Blackrock PAC) PAC$10K
- Intuit Inc. 21st Century Leadership Fund PAC$10K
- Fair Isaac Corporation Political Action Committee (FICO PAC) PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/sam-t-liccardo
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 9 of 468 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (6), Rights & public safety (2), Foreign affairs & defense (1)
Main Street Act
What it does: Main Street Capital Access Act or the Main Street Act This bill lessens and otherwise modifies banking regulations, including those regarding institution formation, supervision by federal financial regulators, and ban…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 56–154, Republicans 213–1
Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Massie) to H.R. 8595 — Making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8595 amendment that bars funds in the bill from being used for Israel and cuts the Foreign Military Financing account by $3.3 billion. (AI-written)
What it does: National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 This bill provides FY2027 appropriations for national security, the Department of State, and related programs.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 103–98, Republicans 1–215
Jul 15, 2026Official record ↗
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
What it does: Cashless Bail Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of Justice to publish annually a list of state and local governments that permit individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a cle…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 96–114, Republicans 211–2
May 14, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.About · Office of Rep. Sam Liccardo Official record
- 2.Sam Liccardo · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 3.Sam Liccardo · Ballotpedia Reference
- 4.California 16th election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 5.Lowering Costs · Office of Rep. Sam Liccardo Official record
- 6.Sam Liccardo — Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-01-01 Candidate's own words
- 7.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 10.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 11.H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 12.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 13.H.Con.Res. 64 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 14.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 16.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 17.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 18.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 19.Sam Liccardo · Ballotpedia Reference
- 20.samliccardo.com · Sam Liccardo for Congress campaign website Candidate's own words