Half Moon Bay’s Jotham Stein Announces Run for Congress as an Independent (NoParty Preference) in California’s 16th Congressional District ~ “Bridge the Divide”

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PRESS RELEASE. From Stein for Congress, January 20th, 2026.

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-do- anything-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 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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Background
I know Silicon Valley very well, while still having a lot to learn too! I’ve spent 25+ years as a lawyer in Silicon Valley representing employees, entrepreneurs and executives (and lots of others) to make sure they don’t get taken advantage of. I’ve even written a book on the subject called, “Negotiate Like a CEO: How to Get Ahead With Lessons Learned From Top Entrepreneurs and Executives.” You can get it on Amazon (any profits I earn from the book during the campaign will be donated to charity). I’ve spent a career negotiating, a career fighting for individuals, a career compromising, and yes, sometimes conceding for the greater good. In a healthy democracy, negotiating and compromise are necessary. In the old days, there was even a Senator knows as, “The Great Compromiser.”

I also spent 5+ years as a Board member of Coastside Hope, one of San Mateo County’s eight core public service agencies, a non-profit providing food, rental assistance, support to the neighbors in my community. Neighbors helping neighbors.

When I’m not caring for people, I care for our environment. I’ve dug up lots of invasive plants over the years for Coastside Land Trust (the Coastside’s version of the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)), an organization I’ve supported for years.

I have a Stanford law degree. I know the statistics. I know it’s hard to win as an Independent. In fact, it’s basically impossible for me to win unless somehow I can get you to think outside the proverbial box, to consider an underfunded, outmanned, sort-of-ugly candidate more than a candidate of one of the two established parties. But I’m trying.