Head-to-head confrontation, Ricardo and Luo Darren debated on the evening of the 11th

In an escalating war of words between Silicon Valley congressional candidates Sam Liccardo (left) and Evan Low (right), the two will face off directly in a televised debate this Friday night. This highly anticipated event, hosted by NBC Bay Area, KQED, and Telemundo 48, is set to take place from 7 PM to 8 PM and will be broadcast live across various platforms.

Originally scheduled for last Wednesday, the debate was postponed when Liccardo withdrew less than seven hours before the event, citing laryngitis. After discussions, both candidates agreed to reschedule it for this week.

The candidates are vying for the open seat in California’s 16th congressional district, which became available after longtime Representative Anna Eshoo announced her retirement last December. The district stretches from Pacifica to Los Gatos and is crucial for representing significant issues affecting Silicon Valley in Congress.

As election day approaches and ballots have begun to be mailed out, tensions have risen between the candidates’ campaign teams. Low and his allies have criticized Liccardo for supporting pension reforms and staffing reductions for police during his tenure as a San Jose city council member. In response, unions representing firefighters, nurses, and teachers have organized protests targeting Liccardo over the last three weeks. Liccardo’s camp, however, highlights that during his two terms as mayor of San Jose from 2015 to 2023, he played a key role in the city’s financial recovery and increasing police staff.

Furthermore, Liccardo’s team has drawn attention to campaign finance complaints raised by voting rights organizations against Low, accusing him of improperly using funds raised for his legislative campaign to support his congressional bid. Low’s campaign, though, has dismissed these accusations as baseless.