Palo Alto Councilmember Weighs Longshot Congressional Bid: Report

PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto councilmember Greg Tanaka is weighing a longshot bid to run for congress in 2022, Palo Alto Weekly reports.

Tanaka who won reelection last year placing third among a field of 10 candidates, filed official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission last month indicating he is considering a run at the 18th District seat currently held by Rep. Anna Eshoo, the report said.

Tanaka indicated he intends to form a committee it will call “Greg Tanaka for Congress” in his Dec. 18 filing, the report said.

Bobby Borisov, Tanaka’s campaign manager, told the news outlet that his decision to run is close to a done deal.

"It's almost final. We're going at it 100% and we're already spending time and effort," Borisov said according to the report.

Tanaka is a registered Democrat and considered a fiscal hawk according to the report.

He was among two Palo Alto councilmembers who voted against overturning a longstanding ordinance banning nonresidents from Foothills Park last year, a position that could come back to haunt the College Terrace resident amid a national racial justice reckoning, especially in a bright blue district.

Eshoo easily won reelection in November, breezing past fellow Democrat Rishi Kumar by nearly 2-to-1 margin, garnering 63.2 percent of the vote compared with 36.8 for her opponent.

Read more at Palo Alto Weekly