Sam Liccardo — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in California, 2026

Sam Liccardo voted against the FY26 Department of Homeland Security funding bill and an extension of ICE funding, citing concerns about the agency's accountability and alleged shift from its mission to remove violent criminals. He criticized ICE's lack of body cameras for all officers despite its budget, proposing to shift funds to local police for accountability. Liccardo also advocates for fair immigration policies focused on working immigrants to benefit the U.S. economy.

““I voted against giving another dime to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security.” - Sam Liccardo, in a statement regarding his vote against the FY26 DHS funding bill, http://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-sam-liccardo-votes-against-funding-ice”

Sam Liccardo supported extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, voting yes on a three-year extension. He co-sponsored the bipartisan Fix It Act, which proposes a two-year extension funded by addressing insurance company overbilling. Liccardo emphasizes these actions are crucial to prevent health insurance premiums from doubling, avoid coverage loss for millions, and maintain a stable insurance pool. He seeks politically viable solutions to protect Americans from rising healthcare costs.

“"That means all of our premiums will be 5% higher on average, because we no longer have as healthy an insurance pool," Liccardo said. "So all of us bear the cost for the failure to bring more people into the ACA insurance pool." — Sam Liccardo, in an interview on California Politics 360, as reported by KCRA.com”

Sam Liccardo supports implementing a "carbon dividend" to price carbon and incentivize a shift to renewables by returning revenue to taxpayers, aiming to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. He advocates for the "30x30" conservation initiative, which seeks to preserve 30% of Earth's natural resources by 2030 through federal funding and local partnerships. He is also endorsed by the LCV Action Fund as a climate champion, and states his role involves supporting innovation to combat climate change.

““I feel like my role is around trying to see how we can better articulate a vision for Democrats around supporting innovation we critically need if we're going to combat climate change and tackle huge gaps in education and skills,” Sam Liccardo, http://liccardo.house.gov/media/in-the-news/six-months-liccardo-reflects-new-role.”

Sam Liccardo advocates for federal protection of reproductive health services, believing Congress must prohibit states from restricting access to medical abortions and telemedicine services, regardless of fetal viability. He supports abortion coverage through Medicaid and expanding access to in vitro fertilization treatment. Liccardo also backs legislation such as the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act, and the Right to Contraception Act. He cites that a pluralistic, democratic society respects individual conscience in these personal decisions.

“I grew up in a family of five kids, with three older sisters. My parents raised us Catholic, bringing us to church every Sunday, yet my parents reinforced to each of us that a pluralistic, democratic society respects the genuineness of others’ beliefs in making decisions affecting their lives. Abortion, my parents would say, was no different: although our Catholic teachings informed our own personal choices on the matter, every person must follow her own God-given conscience, and the law must allow every person to do just that. - Sam Liccardo, samliccardo.com/plan/reproductive-rights/”

Congressman Sam Liccardo has criticized the executive branch's military actions, specifically denouncing U.S. strikes in Iran and advocating for Congress to reassert its war powers under Article I. He voted against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill for FY26 and against an extension of funding for DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, he spearheads House legislation mirroring the SUN Act to increase oversight for non-disaster National Guard deployments.

““Every President who sends our women and men into battle has the constitutional and moral duty to clearly identify and explain the objective of war. ... Congress must act immediately on a war powers resolution to reassert its authority under Article I of the Constitution.” – Sam Liccardo, Rep. Liccardo Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iran, March 2, 2026.”

Sam Liccardo supports expanding public education and non-traditional career pathways beyond college degrees, including vocational and digital training. He also seeks to address teacher exodus and the need for adult upskilling to adapt to technological changes. Liccardo opposes the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and secured federal funding for teacher workforce housing in the Pacifica School District.

“"The whole country loses a lot if we do play ball. We can fight this." — Rep. Sam Liccardo, quoted in San José Spotlight, regarding eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in schools.”

Sam Liccardo voted Nay on H.Res. 1042 and H.Res. 1057 in 2026, both procedural votes related to modernizing federal firearms laws. As Mayor of San Jose, he implemented mandatory liability insurance and fees for gun owners. He states these measures aim to reduce gun-related harm, compensate taxpayers, support victims, and fund mental health and gun safety services.

“Grieving communities don’t have the luxury of forgetting. We live among devastated family members, we hear the echoes of painful eulogies, and we work with traumatized friends. I joined several colleagues to propose a comprehensive set of initiatives to reduce gun-related harm in San Jose. These proposals include two measures that no other city nor state in the United States has ever tried: mandatory gun insurance to support victims, and mandatory gun fees to compensate taxpayers. As with many other Silicon Valley innovations, we intend to implement and test these ideas, learn from our mistakes, improve, iterate and provide a platform for others to scale them to benefit their own communities. - Sam Liccardo, CNN, June 15, 2021”