The race for California’s 16th Congressional District remains a dead heat, as the latest results from the recount show incumbent Assemblymember Evan Low and former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian tied with the exact same number of votes. The recount, which began on April 15, has been underway for nearly a month to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo secured first place early on, but Low and Simitian ended in a tie for second place after nearly a month of vote-counting.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Low and Simitian had each gained six votes through the recount. The results from the remaining 24 precincts in Santa Clara County could be reported as early as Wednesday, while San Mateo County is expected to complete its recount today. Additionally, Santa Clara County has challenged ballots left to be counted, which could potentially break the tie.
The recount has been closely watched as Simitian initially held a one-vote lead after the first round of preliminary results were released on Friday. However, Tuesday’s updated results show that the race is still too close to call.
Both Low and Simitian have expressed confidence in their chances of winning the recount, and it remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge victorious. The outcome of the race will have significant implications for the political landscape in California’s 16th Congressional District.
