Joe Simitian

Joe Simitian

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

California State Assembly District 21

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California State Senate District 11

Successor: Mark Leno

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Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5

Successor: Margaret Abe-Koga

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

High school

Palo Alto High School

Bachelor's

Colorado College

Graduate

Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley

Law

University of California, Berkeley

Personal

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Joe Simitian was a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in California, representing District 5. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on January 6, 2025.

Simitian (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 16th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Simitian earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado College, a master's degree in international policy studies from Stanford University, and a J.D. and a master's degree in city planning from the University of California at Berkeley. Simitian previously served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1997 to 2000. He also served as the District 11 representative in the California State Senate from 2004 to 2012, the District 21 representative in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2004, a member of the Palo Alto City Council from 1992 to 1996, the mayor of Palo Alto in 1995, and a member of the Palo Alto school board from 1983 to 1991.

Elections

2024

See also: California's 16th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 16th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 16

Sam Liccardo defeated Evan Low in the general election for U.S. House California District 16 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sam Liccardo (D)	58.2	179,583
		Evan Low (D)	41.8	128,893

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 308,476
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 16

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 16 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sam Liccardo (D)	21.1	38,492
✔		Evan Low (D)	16.6	30,261
		Joe Simitian (D)	16.6	30,256
		Peter Ohtaki (R)	12.8	23,283
		Peter Dixon (D)	8.1	14,677
		Rishi Kumar (D)	6.8	12,383
	Submit photo	Karl Ryan (R)	6.3	11,563
		Julie Lythcott-Haims (D)	6.2	11,386
		Ahmed Mostafa (D)	3.2	5,814
		Greg Tanaka (D)	1.3	2,421
		Joby Bernstein (D)	0.9	1,652

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 182,188
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Evan Bell (D)
• Nickesh Viswanathan (No party preference)

Endorsements

Simitian received the following endorsements.

• U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D)

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Santa Clara County, California (2020)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5

Incumbent Joe Simitian won election outright in the primary for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Simitian (Nonpartisan)	100.0	85,322

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 85,322
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2012

Simitian was unable to run for re-election in 2012 due to term limits.

2008

In 2008 Simitian was re-elected to the California State Senate, District 11. He finished with 272,154 votes while his opponent Blair Austin Nathan finished with 91,592 votes. Simitian raised $969,297 for his campaign fund.

California State Senate, District 11
Candidates		Votes
Joe Simitian (D)		272,154
Blair Austin Nathan (R)		91,592

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe Simitian did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Simitian’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Getting Results in Washington, D.C. My goal has always been to help people, solve problems and improve the lives of the people I represent. That’s what I’ve done in my public service to date and that’s what I’ll do in Congress. Our country has never been more divided, and Congress won’t be an easy place to make progress, but I’ve been up against powerful interests and long odds before and won. I do this work to build a better future. Here are some of my urgent priorities. Environment The Sierra Club named Joe Simitian an “Environmental Hero” because combating climate change and environmental protection continue to be at the top of Joe’s agenda. He has pioneered clean energy initiatives, protected our land and our water, and fought for green transportation. Joe Pushed to Replace Fossil Fuels With Renewables While in the State Senate, Joe passed the country’s most aggressive renewable energy law, requiring electricity providers to generate 33 percent of electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020. Now, California has accelerated the momentum, doing even more. Other states have followed suit! Joe Shut Down Polluters Joe led the charge to permanently shutter the polluting Lehigh Cement Plant in the West Valley foothills, shut down the quarry, and hold the parties responsible for fixing the environmental damage. Joe Secured Clean Drinking Water Joe’s unwavering commitment to clean water is evident in the Delta Reform Act – landmark legislation he wrote that guarantees quality drinking water, ensures steady sources of funding to protect California watersheds, ensures water quality regulations, and prevents stormwater pollution. Joe Protects Our Coast When Joe learned that cruise ships and other commercial vessels were dumping waste into the ocean near our coast and polluting the air with reckless incineration, he put an end to it with a series of laws designed to permanently protect our coast and our marine sanctuaries. As a result of Joe’s work, California has the nation’s largest, longest, No Discharge Zone (NDZ). Joe Conserves Land and Protects Wildlife Joe has a track record of fighting for land conservation and protection. Joe helped reclaim more than 50 acres in the Baylands to restore wetlands and wildlife habitat. He helped protect Coyote Valley from potential development, and his work protects our foothills for generations to come. Housing Joe knows first-hand that a safe and stable home is essential to reaching personal and financial aspirations. He spent part of his early childhood in a government housing project that allowed his single mom to stabilize and figure out the next steps for the family. For too many people in our region, a reliable place to call home is out of reach, and purchasing a home is a far cry from reality. Undaunted, Joe has made significant inroads: he has led the county in funding for affordable housing (Measure A), protected existing low-income housing, and expanded access to shelters. In Congress, Joe will double down on these local wins and scale our housing successes nationally. Joe Mobilized Nearly $1 Billion for Affordable Housing With Joe’s support, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors proposed and voters approved Measure A, a $950 million bond measure for affordable housing that funded 5,000 units in nine cities and provided housing for more than 14,000 people. Joe Leads on Housing Construction for Vulnerable Populations Joe convinced Santa Clara County to commit $40 million to help develop over 800 units of affordable housing (in Milpitas, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale), 140 units are set aside for individuals with disabilities. Joe successfully advocated for a 110-unit housing development for teachers and school employees in Palo Alto, serving half a dozen districts in northern Santa Clara County and southern San Mateo County. At Joe’s urging, the Board approved acquisition of a second site in Cupertino to serve educators in the West Valley. Joe sponsored a proposal that funded 28 new affordable housing units for local agricultural workers in Morgan Hill. Joe Protects Existing Affordable Housing Joe led the coalition that saved the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, which preserved 117 units of affordable housing, prevented the eviction of more than 400 low-income residents and ensured that the affordable housing site would be protected in a lasting way. Joe Provides Emergency Shelter Assistance Joe led an effort to provide rental assistance and a home-sharing program to bring together homeowners with extra space and tenants in need of a home. Because of Joe’s advocacy, a new cold-weather shelter in Sunnyvale was developed. In Mountain View, Joe led local efforts to create a new North County cold weather shelter for women and families. Joe Ensured Safe Overnight Parking for RVs Under Joe’s leadership, safe overnight parking was approved and funded in Mountain View and in Palo Alto, providing security and peace of mind for car, van and RV dwellers. Reproductive Rights / Healthcare / Mental Health Joe believes that healthcare is a fundamental human right. He has improved healthcare for us through fresh ideas and partnerships. He leads initiatives that increased access to mental healthcare, lower the cost of life-saving medications and protect our hospitals and reproductive rights. Joe Fights for Reproductive Health Joe has a track record of fighting for reproductive rights. After the local Planned Parenthood (Mar Monte) lost its space in northern Santa Clara County, he helped develop a shared-use partnership with Planned Parenthood that actually expanded their services. In fact, Planned Parenthood dedicated the lobby in his honor. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Joe took swift legal action to protect reproductive rights in our region, state and nation — authoring the Board of Supervisors resolution that declared the County a Defender of Reproductive Freedom. Joe Improved Breast Cancer Screening Joe wrote legislation that improves breast cancer screening, helping patients detect their conditions earlier and saving lives. His state legislation required that women with dense breast tissue be notified and advised that dense breast tissue could make it harder to detect cancer on a mammogram. The approach he pioneered is set to take effect nationally in 2024. Joe Increased Access to Mental Health Care Joe spearheaded the Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Center, Santa Clara County’s first emergency inpatient psychiatric hospital for children and teenagers, currently under construction. He opened the State’s first mental health “alcove” center for teens and young adults. Joe also initiated the creation of the county’s “Mental Health Navigator” program, which makes it easier for residents with mental health challenges to get access to resources. Joe Made Important Prescription Drugs Affordable Joe launched the MedAssist program in Santa Clara County to subsidize the high costs of lifesaving prescriptions including Epi-Pens, insulin and inhalers for qualifying residents with allergies, diabetes, and asthma. And, the state law Joe wrote in the legislature is now being used in Santa Clara County to provide free prescriptions at the County’s Better Health Pharmacy – with unused prescription medications being redirected (for free) to those who need them. Joe Makes Healthcare Accessible Because Joe knew that 400,000 folks in the northern and western parts of Santa Clara County did not have a county-run health clinic, he spearheaded an initiative to bring services to the community. In 2022, Santa Clara opened its first specialty care clinic and pharmacy in the northern part of the county. A full-service County Health Clinic will open in North County in 2024, and plans are underway for a county clinic in the West Valley on the De Anza College campus. Education Joe knows that early childhood education, quality teachers, and adequate school funding are essential to positive outcomes for children. He’s the guy behind Transitional Kindergarten for four-year-olds in California. He’s a leader in building teacher housing. He’s improved funding for every public school in California. He was twice named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the California School Boards Association. Authored Transitional Kindergarten Legislation As a California State Senator, Joe authored the bill establishing Transitional Kindergarten, the first new grade level in California in more than 100 years. Now, more than half of California’s four-year-olds are enrolled in the program, which provides age-appropriate curriculum and prepares them for Kindergarten and beyond. Boosted Funding for Students Statewide As a California State Legislator, Joe not only fought to increase dollars going to underfunded districts, he also made sure districts with strong tax bases could keep their tax dollars local for neighborhood schools. Building Teacher Housing Working with school districts, cities and the private sector, Joe is leading the effort to build housing for teachers and other school employees in the communities where they work. The first project in Palo Alto (110 units) is under construction and will serve teachers from a half dozen districts in northern Santa Clara and southern San Mateo counties. A second project in Santa Clara County’s West Valley is already underway. Championed Inclusive Playgrounds for Children With Special Needs Joe understands that children with disabilities — be they physical, cognitive or otherwise — often find traditional playgrounds inaccessible. Joe pushed Santa Clara County to help fund multiple new “all-inclusive” playgrounds that every child can enjoy, whether they be in wheelchairs, have sensory sensitivities or have any special needs. This model of inclusive playground has been replicated internationally. Awarded Outstanding Legislator of the Year Joe was twice named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the California School Boards Association and has been recognized for his work in education by more than a dozen education organizations including the California Parent Teacher Association and the California Association of Low Wealth Schools. Technology Joe’s ability to anticipate and solve problems is unmatched. He anticipated the dangers of distracted driving, the potential loss of privacy with surveillance technology and the need to keep consumers informed about data breaches. He authored legislation to address all of these concerns before they got out of hand. In the age of AI, Joe will take the lead in passing legislation that ensures that people’s privacy is respected and their jobs are protected while still fostering innovation. Joe Protects Consumer Data Joe’s first-in-the-nation data privacy law required companies to notify California consumers about online data breaches – and was the model for similar legislation that has been adopted in all 50 states. Joe Anticipates Dangers of Technology Joe anticipated that cell phones would distract drivers. He authored and got California’s hands-free cell phone law passed which saves 700 lives in California every year and has been replicated throughout the country. Joe Protects Civil Liberties and Privacy Increasingly, governments are buying technology and surveillance tools to assist law enforcement. Joe successfully advocated for a framework that analyzes the privacy implications of the technology for citizens and requires the submission of a use policy for that technology before seeking funding approval for purchase from elected officials. The Guardian newspaper calls Joe “Silicon Valley’s surveillance technology watchdog.” Joe Ensures Your Personal Data Is Safe Governments collect all kinds of records – health, criminal, home and more. It is incumbent that governments protect this data. Joe urged Santa Clara County to become a Privacy Center of Excellence to secure data from outside breaches or internal mishandling. Under the program, the County established its first Privacy Office and hired its first Chief Privacy Officer. Joe Advocates for Net Neutrality When the Federal Communications Commission under the Trump Administration rolled back net neutrality regulations, Joe, with the Board of Supervisors, asserted Santa Clara County’s position with the FCC. Joe believes Internet Service Providers should not be able to economically benefit from limiting the speed at which users access information on the web. Economy California is too expensive, and the cost of living is making it harder for families, seniors, and public service workers to stay here. During COVID, I created a loan program to help small businesses and capped food delivery fees to protect consumers. In Congress, I will pass legislation that contributes to a healthy economy, fosters economic growth and supports our local industries – technology, agriculture, fishing and tourism. Gun Violence I am committed to ending gun violence. Congress has failed to act for too long, and people are dying because of it. In Congress, I will support common-sense gun safety reforms like background checks and will work to reauthorize the automatic weapons ban. Voting Rights The right to vote and the fairness of our electoral system are under attack. I saw the importance of protecting voter access when I supervised elections in Bosnia and El Salvador. In Congress, I will fight attempts to restrict access to voting and safeguard every person’s right to vote.	”
—Joe Simitian’s campaign website (2024)

2020

Joe Simitian did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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State legislative tenure

Scorecards

Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.<ref name=scorecard>Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009</ref>

On the 2009 legislative scorecard, Simitian ranked as a 100. He was one of eight state senators the publication identified as voting in what they defined as a "liberal" way in every vote they ranked.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Simitian served on these committees:

• Budget and Fiscal Review

• Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation, Chair

• Education

• Subcommittee on Sustainable School Facilities

• Energy, Utilities and Communications
• Environmental Quality Committee, California State Senate, Chair
• Natural Resources and Water Committee, California Senate
• Transportation and Housing Committee, California Senate

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Simitian served on these committees:

• Budget and Fiscal Review
• Education
• Energy, Utilities and Communications
• Environmental Quality
• Natural Resources and Water
• Transportation and Housing

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House California District 16

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5 2013-2025	Succeeded by Margaret Abe-Koga
Preceded by -	California State Senate District 11 2004-2012	Succeeded by Mark Leno (D)
Preceded by -	California State Assembly District 21 2000-2004	Succeeded by -

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (9)