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. When his colleagues selected him to become Campbell mayor in 2009, Low became the youngest openly gay, Asian American Mayor in the nation. In 2013, his colleagues on the Campbell City Council selected him to serve as Mayor for a second time. His term on the council expired in 2014.
California Assembly
In 2014, Assembly SpeakerToni Atkins appointed Low as Assistant Majority Whip. Low was kept in the same leadership role by Atkins's successor, Speaker Anthony Rendon, in 2016. Low chairs the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee. 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.." There are 24 members of the Tech Caucus. 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 RepresentativesMinority LeaderNancy Pelosi. 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. 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. He has also been credited with driving the future of Uber and Lyft in the California State Legislature. Facebook Chief Operating OfficerSheryl Sandberg recognized him for advancing the technology and innovation economy in the state of California.
2014 California State Assembly
2016 California State Assembly
2018 California State Assembly
2020 California State Assembly
Conflicts of interest
A number of news outlets have identified potential conflicts of interest connected to Low's campaign contributions. Since 2015 Low has reportedly received $59,000 "in contributions from dentists, the dental industry and entities affiliated with dentists," and at least $54,000 in contributions from optometry interests. Following the 2015 death of a six-year-old boy improperly anesthetized, a bill was introduced that would require a trained anesthesiologist to be present during oral surgeries involving children. Low imposed an amendment to the bill that reversed the requirement for an anesthesiologist, drawing criticism from a number of advocates, including the family of the deceased boy. In 2020, California's Fair Political Practices Commission announced an investigation into Low's "potential violations of the 'behested payment' disclosure provisions of the Political Reform Act". The investigation was prompted following concerns raised over Low's lack of disclosing the source of money given to the Foundation for California's Technology and Innovation Economy, which was co-founded by Low. The state law potentially in violation requires elected officials to disclose donations of $5,000 or more given to other groups at their request. Low has also authored a number of bills, including Assembly Bill 1998, that protect the financial interest of dentists, orthodontists, and optometrists; Low's father and uncle are an optometrist and orthodontist respectively.
