However, it was unclear which candidate he would face in the general election, as state assemblyman Evan Low and Santa Clara County supervisor Joe Simitian repeatedly traded the second-place position during the vote tabulation process.
[69] The Los Angeles Times pointed out that Low and Simitian had no incentive to request a recount, which could potentially lock them out of the general election.
[72] Low's campaign alleged that Liccardo was behind the requests, which they called "a page right out of Trump's political playbook using dirty tricks to attack democracy and subvert the will of the voters."
"[73] Padilla, a "longtime Silicon Valley political insider," did not answer questions from local media about the source of the funds for the costly recount.
[72] According to reporting by KNTV, the recount is being funded by $12,000 checks from the newly-formed super PAC "Count the Vote" signed by James Sutton, an attorney who had previously represented Liccardo.
[78] On April 19, Santa Clara County Government Attorneys Association president Max Zarzana filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that the Liccardo campaign concocted a "secret scheme to illegally coordinate with a newly-formed dark money Super PAC to do his CD-16 recount bidding" and noted Liccardo's past connections with those involved in requesting the recount.
Zarzana also highlighted Liccardo's history of "backroom deals" including violations of the California Public Records Act for which he was previously fined $500,000.
[8][9] The attorney who represented Padilla in his recount request, Matthew Alvarez, is also listed as the treasurer of both super PACs in question.
[82] In October 2024, good-government group Defend the Vote[85] filed an FEC complaint against Low,[86] alleging that he had spent nearly $600,000[87] from his state campaign account on ads that were distributed across the congressional district.
The Mercury News Editorial Board reaffirmed their endorsement of Liccardo,[89] criticizing Low for "putting political self-interest ahead of campaign integrity."