Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo sworn in to Congress: Here’s how he plans to represent the Bay Area in the Trump administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KGO) — Friday marked the first day of a new Congress. Among those sworn in was former San Jose Mayor and now Congressman Sam Liccardo.

On Friday afternoon, we spoke with Liccardo from his office in Washington, DC.

“I feel immense pride in being able to serve in this way,” Liccardo said.

Liccardo replaces long-time representative Anna Eshoo.

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Its district extends from the South Bay to the mid-peninsula and coastal San Mateo County.

When he’s not on Capitol Hill, Liccardo will be in the same offices Eshoo had in Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay.

“Well, we’re currently trying to build teams in two cities. Literally at home and in Washington, D.C.,” Liccardo said.

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Liccardo – a Democrat – is a first-term member of a minority party. He said he knows there are significant challenges ahead in working with his party and the new administration.

“We think about the cost of housing, the cost of child care, and these are not issues that end up in legislation or in mass battles. These are opportunities, I think, for younger members like me to mobilize across the aisle, to build coalitions, to move things forward with relatively nonpartisan measures that can actually provide real relief to families who are struggling every day,” Liccardo said.

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Liccardo said he plans to build a strong network of relationships so he can represent the clout Silicon Valley needs in Washington, DC.

“We’re actually going to build a platform to bring other members of Congress to the valley to be able to meet with community leaders and understand, for example, what the needs of the innovation economy are,” Liccardo said.

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During his campaign, Liccardo used AI voice technology to speak to voters when he was losing his voice.

“Sam, the last time I spoke to you it was through the AI’s voice. So I just want to clarify that it’s you speaking and not the AI,” asked joked ABC7’s Lauren Martinez.

“It really is. Although some people have said they prefer the AI ​​voice,” Liccardo said with a smile.