Patrick Ahrens, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board President, took the early lead in the California Assembly District 26 race, early election returns showed Tuesday night.
The open Assembly District 26 seat is the result of a political domino effect that began to fall when U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo announced she’d be retiring from Congress after more than three decades. Low, who could have been elected to one more two-year term before terming out in 2026, quickly jumped into the Congressional race, abandoning what would have been almost a guaranteed reelection to his assembly seat. District 26 includes Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and parts of north and west San Jose.
Tara Sreekrishnan, who is also the deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Dave Cortese, was in second place as of Tuesday night.
More than half a million dollars was spent by outside groups in the primary race, with a large chunk of the funding pumped into Ahrens’ campaign. The Uber Innovation Political Action Committee and the Golden State Leadership Fund PAC, which is funded by the California Apartment Association, PG&E and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Caucus Leadership Fund, spent more than $400,000 combined.