Evan Low

Low was born in San Jose, California on June 5, 1983 to Chinese American optometrist Arthur Low. Low grew up in San Jose, California and attended Leland High School. In 2003, Low moved to Campbell, California.[3][4][5]

Low earned an associate's degree from De Anza College, a community college in Cupertino, California, and a bachelor's degree in political science from San Jose State University.[4][5] In 2008, Low completed a several-week-long certificate program[6] at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

In 2004, Low unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the City Council, but he ran again in 2006 and won in his second attempt. Low worked as a senior district representative for California's former 28th State Assembly district Assemblymember Paul Fong.[3][4]

When his colleagues selected him to become Campbell mayor in 2009, Low became the youngest openly gay, Asian American Mayor in the nation.[7]

In 2013, his colleagues on the Campbell City Council selected him to serve as Mayor for a second time.[8] His term on the council expired in 2014.

In 2014, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins appointed Low as Assistant Majority Whip.[9] Low was kept in the same leadership role by Atkins's successor, Speaker Anthony Rendon, in 2016.[10]

Low chairs the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee.[11]

Low is a co-founder and co-chair of the California Legislative Tech Caucus, a bi-partisan group of Assemblymembers and Senators engaged in a statewide effort to ensure that California remains the global leader in technology and innovation. The Caucus is committed to learning about, protecting and promoting California's technology and innovation sector. The Caucus seeks to foster and promote technology and innovation, support legislation that creates jobs, improve the use of technology to improve the lives of people, promote the technology and innovation climate in California, and engage on emerging policy issues.." [12] There are 24 members of the Tech Caucus.[13]

In 2016, Low introduced AB 1887 that would ban all California state-funded travel to states that enacted laws to discriminate against individuals based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, that was supported by U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.[12]

In 2016, New York Magazine identified Low as a potential United States presidential candidate in 2024 along with nine other young Democrats who, like Obama, have unusual ambition.[14]

He has been a leader in the state legislature with numerous bills signed. In the 2017-2018 session, the Sacramento Bee identified Low as California's most prolific lawmaker, where he had the most bills signed by any member of the state legislature by Governor Jerry Brown.[15] He has also been credited with driving the future of Uber and Lyft in the California State Legislature.[16]

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg recognized him for advancing the technology and innovation economy in the state of California.[17]

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a Proclamation naming June 5, 2006, “Evan Low Day” in the City and County of San Francisco.[7][18][19]

Assemblymember Low has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the Internet Association, TechNet, The Computing Technology Industry Association, California Faculty Association, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, California District Attorneys Association and Faculty Association of California Community Colleges.[20][21][22][23]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Evan Low.

• Official website
• Campaign website