Jotham was excited to knock on doors in the Circles area of Palo Alto today. He talked with voters on Starr King, Redwood and Carlson Circles and adjacent streets. Jotham lived in the Circles in late 90s and early 2000s in the early years of his law practice, just a few minutes away in Palo Alto’s California Avenue business district area.
It’s been a busy four days. Jotham walked door-to-door in Mountain View this past Thursday and then in Menlo Park on Friday, to learn about your concerns and to discuss his hopes and plans to begin fixing our Congressional District and our country. You told Jotham you are worried about inflation and the high cost of living, Social Security running out of money, healthcare costs and the parties seemingly inability to get positive things done for all of us. Yesterday, Jotham met voters at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market until1:00 pm, and afterwards walked door-to-door in Saratoga. Earlier today, Jotham spoke with voters at the Campbell Farmers Market in downtown Campbell.
In his first visit to Palo Alto’s Downtown Farmers Market, Jotham spent the morning listening to voters’ concerns and discussing his plans to fix America and his independent Campaign for Congress. To save paper, Jotham gave all voters a small, square, teal-colored handout with Stein For Congress on one side and a QR code to the Stein-For-Congress website on the other side. In the afternoon, Jotham walked door-to-door in Mountain View meeting voters in their neihborhoods.
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A day after the tragic and unacceptable ICE killing of an ICU nurse in Minneapolis, a number of voters at the Los Gatos Farmers Market told Jotham how distraught they are at what’s going on in Minnesota and our country. Some even (sadly) remarked how “timely” it is that an Independent is running for Congress. Today, Jotham talked with voters at the Broadway (Southwest) entrance to the Los Gatos Farmers Market. Yesterday, Jotham listened to voters’ concerns at the Saratoga Farmers Market at West Valley College until it closed at 1 pm. After that, Jotham drove 54 minutes north to Linda Mar, Pacifica (the northernmost City in the Congressional District) where he spoke with voters’ near the famous Taco Bell on the beach.
Half Moon Bay, CA. 20 January 2026 – Half Moon Bay resident, Silicon Valley attorney and author of “Negotiate Like a CEO,” Jotham Stein announced today that he is running for Congress as an Independent (called “No Party Preference”) in California’s 16th Congressional District. CD-16 includes much of Silicon Valley and extends along the Coast from Pacifica to Pescadero. Jotham is running as an Independent because the two party system is broken, leaving CD-16, California, and the country much worse off.
Jotham explained: “It’s wrong that two parties are gerrymandering our country for themselves. Shame on both for shutting down the government and causing 41 million to go hungry. Shame on them for failing to fix health care, Social Security, inflation, for ballooning our national debt, and for so much more.”
Jotham shared that, like so many of us, he is worried about America’s direction. He explained, “Let’s work together to change America’s trajectory. But let’s also recognize that we are part of the problem. Repeatedly, we vote for the same two billionaire-financed parties and their I’ll-doanything-to-get-elected candidates. I am offering you an opportunity to change that!”
Jotham concluded: “We in Silicon Valley are leaders. We are early adopters. This election, let’s start bridging the divide. Vote Independent (No Party Preference). Vote Stein.” The Stein For Congress website, https://votestein.com, carries Jotham’s blunt pledge: “I pledge to you that I’ll work with all, for you and us, but remain staunchly Independent. If I don’t, throw me out of office.”
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About Jotham Stein: Jotham Stein is a graduate of Stanford Law School and has spent 25+ years as a lawyer in Silicon Valley (offices in Palo Alto) representing employees, entrepreneurs and executives (and lots of others) to make sure they don’t get taken advantage of. He’s written a book on the subject, “Negotiate Like a CEO: How to Get Ahead With Lessons Learned From Top Entrepreneurs and Executives.” Jotham spent 5+ years as a Board member of Coastside Hope, one of San Mateo County’s eight core public service agencies. He cares about the environment, supporting and digging up lots of invasive plants over the years for Coastside Land Trust.
The Stein For Congress website is https://votestein.com.
For more information, contact Tammie Meek at tammie@votestein.com or 650-204-1199.
Jotham spent today knocking on doors in his hometown of Half Moon Bay. He listened to how voters feel about our current political climate, the things they believe need to be done and the things they believe aren’t getting done. Many expressed frustration at what is going on in our country and were happy to sign Jotham’s petition to get on the ballot as soon as they learned Jotham is an Independent (called, “No Party Preference” in California). Others told Jotham they wanted to learn more about him and his positions before they signed. Once Jotham explained, they signed. A few told Jotham they would sign because they believe he should have access to the ballot. Jotham thanked them and gave these voters a small handout with a QR Code to the votestein.com website so they could learn more.
On this blue sky day, Jotham returned to his law school alma mater, Stanford, to engage voters. He stood first on Palm Drive and later on the corner of Escondido and Campus Drive . To date, Jotham, himself, has collected signatures from voters throughout our Congressional District (CA-16), including from residents of San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Stanford, Portola Valley, Woodside, Atherton and Redwood City in Silicon Valley and Pacifica, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, Pescadero, and of course, his hometown of Half Moon Bay, on the Coast.
Jotham first visited election headquarters for both San Mateo County (in San Mateo) and Santa Clara County (in San Jose) to drop off completed petitions. After that, Jotham travelled to Menlo Park and Woodside to meet voters. On the sidewalk near Menlo Park’s Oak Grove Post Office, and later near the Woodside Post Office, Jotham listened to the concerns of Democrats, Republicans and Independents (No Party Preference). Across the board, they agreed that something needs to be done. Jotham explained he’s running to bridge the divide, to work for all of us. Today, Republicans, Democrats and Independents (No Party Preference) all signed Jotham’s petition.
What a beautiful, sunny day to listen to voters many concerns at the great Farmers Market at West Valley College in Saratoga. After checking out all the farm stands and other vendors, Jotham began engaging voters at the Market’s Northern entrance. Voters from Saratoga and nearby Los Gatos, and San Jose discussed their worries, and after hearing Jotham explain how they can make a difference voting Independent (No Party Preference) in the June 2, 2026 primary, most signed his petition. Jotham stayed until just before the Market’s 1 pm close. After enjoying a Farmers Market farmstand lunch, Jotham headed to Campbell Plaza to listen to Campbell voter’s concerns. Jotham finished the day in the Town and Country Mall in Palo Alto, outside his favorite chocolate shop, Sweet55.
