Zoe Lofgren

Zoe Lofgren
Born	Susan Ellen Lofgren 21 12, 1947
Birthplace	San Mateo, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Representative from California; tech policy advocacy; House Judiciary Committee service
Education	Santa Clara University (JD)
Children	2
Website	[[lofgren.house.gov lofgren.house.gov] Official site]

Susan Ellen "Zoe" Lofgren (born December 21, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as a U.S. Representative from California since 1995. A member of the Democratic Party, Lofgren is one of the longest-serving members of the California congressional delegation, currently in her 15th term in Congress after first winning election in 1994. Representing a district that encompasses much of Santa Clara County — including large portions of San Jose, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill — Lofgren's constituency sits at the heart of Silicon Valley, a geographic reality that has shaped her legislative focus on technology policy, net neutrality, and digital privacy. She has served on the House Judiciary Committee for the bulk of her congressional career and chaired the House Administration Committee during the 116th and 117th Congresses. As of 2023, she serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Lofgren was the first woman elected to represent California's 16th congressional district, and she has continued to serve through successive redistrictings that moved her into the 19th and then the 18th congressional district.

Early Life

Zoe Lofgren was born Susan Ellen Lofgren on December 21, 1947, in San Mateo, California. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, a region that would remain central to her personal and professional life throughout her career. Details about her parents and family background during her formative years are limited in publicly available records, though her upbringing in the Bay Area placed her in proximity to the social and political movements of the 1960s and 1970s that shaped a generation of California progressives.

Lofgren's early political engagement began while she was still a young woman. As a college student, she became involved in political activism and developed an interest in public service and the law. Her early experiences in civic life set the stage for what would become a decades-long career in government, first at the local level and later in the United States Congress. She was a participant in the Junior State of America, a student-run political education and debate organization, which provided formative civic experiences.

Before entering electoral politics on her own, Lofgren gained experience working in the halls of Congress. She served on the staff of U.S. Representative Don Edwards, a long-serving liberal Democrat who represented the San Jose area for over three decades. This experience working for Edwards, who was a prominent member of the House Judiciary Committee, gave Lofgren a deep familiarity with the legislative process, the workings of the Judiciary Committee, and the issues facing the South Bay community. When Edwards retired from Congress in 1994, Lofgren sought to succeed him, drawing on the relationships and knowledge she had built during her years on his staff.

Education

Lofgren attended Stanford University, one of the premier research universities in the country, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford.

She subsequently pursued a legal education at Santa Clara University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Santa Clara University, a Jesuit institution located in the city of Santa Clara, is situated in the same region Lofgren would later represent in Congress. Her legal training provided the foundation for her subsequent work in government and her extensive service on the House Judiciary Committee, where legal expertise is central to the committee's oversight and legislative functions. Prior to her election to Congress, Lofgren practiced law and also served in local government, leveraging both her Stanford and Santa Clara University education in her public career.

Career

Local Government

Before her election to the United States Congress, Lofgren served in local government in Santa Clara County. She was a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, where she gained experience in local governance, land use, transportation, and public services. Her tenure on the Board of Supervisors gave her visibility in the community and a track record of public service that would prove valuable when she ran for Congress.

Lofgren also served on the staff of Congressman Don Edwards, who represented the San Jose area in Congress for 32 years. Edwards was a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and a leading liberal voice in the House. Working for Edwards gave Lofgren direct exposure to federal policymaking and the operations of the Judiciary Committee, on which she would later serve for decades herself.

Election to Congress

When Don Edwards announced his retirement ahead of the 1994 elections, Lofgren ran to succeed him in California's 16th congressional district. She won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, becoming the first woman to represent the 16th district in Congress. She took office on January 3, 1995, at the start of the 104th United States Congress.

Lofgren quickly established herself as a reliable winner in her strongly Democratic district. She was reelected in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2012, among other election cycles, typically winning by large margins. Following redistricting after the 2010 census, her district was renumbered as California's 19th congressional district, and after the 2020 census redistricting cycle, it was renumbered again as California's 18th congressional district. Throughout these changes, Lofgren continued to represent much of Santa Clara County, including the city of San Jose and surrounding communities.

House Judiciary Committee

Lofgren has been a long-serving member of the House Judiciary Committee, one of the most prominent committees in the House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over matters relating to the federal judiciary, constitutional amendments, immigration policy, civil liberties, and intellectual property, among other areas. Lofgren's legal background and her experience working for Don Edwards on the committee staff made her a natural fit for this assignment.

Her work on the Judiciary Committee has encompassed a wide range of issues over her nearly three decades in Congress. She has been involved in debates over immigration reform, civil liberties in the context of national security, intellectual property law, and the oversight of the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies. Given the location of her district in Silicon Valley, Lofgren has brought a particular focus to issues at the intersection of technology and law, including questions about digital privacy, government surveillance, and the regulation of technology companies.

In 2011, Lofgren called for an investigation into the Secure Communities immigration enforcement program, expressing concern about its impact on local communities and its effectiveness. Her work on immigration issues has been a consistent thread throughout her career on the committee.

During a House Judiciary subcommittee vote on data retention legislation, Lofgren was among the members who engaged in debate over a proposal that would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to retain customer records for extended periods. The measure raised significant privacy concerns among civil liberties advocates and technology industry stakeholders.

House Ethics Committee

From January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2011, during the 111th United States Congress, Lofgren served as Chair of the House Ethics Committee. She succeeded Gene Green, who had served in an acting capacity, and was succeeded by Republican Jo Bonner when the party majority shifted after the 2010 elections. The Ethics Committee is a bipartisan body responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct by House members and staff, and enforcing the House's rules of conduct. Chairing this committee is considered a significant responsibility, as it requires navigating politically sensitive investigations while maintaining the confidence of members on both sides of the aisle.

House Administration Committee

Lofgren chaired the House Administration Committee from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2023, spanning the 116th and 117th Congresses. She succeeded Republican Gregg Harper as chair and was succeeded by Republican Bryan Steil when Republicans regained the House majority after the 2022 elections.

The House Administration Committee has jurisdiction over federal elections, the day-to-day operations of the House, and the administration of federal election laws. During Lofgren's tenure as chair, the committee dealt with matters related to election security, voting rights, and the administration of the House of Representatives itself. Her chairmanship of this committee during a period of intense national debate over election integrity and voting access placed her at the center of several consequential legislative and oversight efforts.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

Beginning in the 118th United States Congress in January 2023, Lofgren assumed the role of Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, succeeding Frank Lucas in leadership of the committee's Democratic contingent. As Ranking Member, Lofgren serves as the senior Democrat on the committee, which has jurisdiction over non-defense federal scientific research and development, including NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's research programs, and technology policy.

In this role, Lofgren has engaged with issues including data center permitting and the oversight of federal space programs. In February 2026, she delivered an opening statement at a hearing of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee on data center permitting, addressing the infrastructure needs of the growing data center industry. She also issued a statement expressing concern about the findings of the Program Investigation Team report on the Boeing Starliner crewed flight test, raising questions about safety and oversight in human spaceflight programs.

Technology and Digital Policy

Representing a district that encompasses much of Silicon Valley, Lofgren has been a prominent voice in Congress on issues related to technology, the Internet, and digital policy. She has advocated for net neutrality — the principle that Internet service providers should treat all Internet traffic equally — and has raised concerns about government digital surveillance programs and their implications for civil liberties.

Her engagement with technology policy has extended to issues of data privacy, intellectual property in the digital age, and the regulatory framework governing technology companies. As a member of the Judiciary Committee and later as Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lofgren has had multiple committee platforms from which to engage with these issues.

The intersection of immigration policy and the technology workforce has also been a focus for Lofgren, given Silicon Valley's dependence on highly skilled immigrant workers. She has engaged in legislative efforts related to H-1B visas and other immigration categories relevant to the technology industry.

Constituent Services and Federal Funding

Throughout her career, Lofgren has worked to secure federal funding for projects in her district and the broader region. In February 2026, she announced that she had secured nearly $1 million in federal funding for a health center in Watsonville. That same month, she presented a $1.2 million check for the renovation of the Watsonville Veterans Hall and secured $900,000 for the Sí Se Puede Behavioral Health Center, a substance use disorder treatment center in Watsonville. She also delivered over $1 million for the replacement of Watsonville's wastewater infrastructure.

In March 2026, Lofgren attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union address accompanied by local grocer Lupe Lopez, drawing attention to economic issues affecting her constituents.

Personal Life

Zoe Lofgren has two children. She has maintained her residence in the San Jose area throughout her congressional career, living in the community she represents. Lofgren's given name is Susan Ellen Lofgren, and she has used the name "Zoe" throughout her public career.

Lofgren has been a member of the California bar, consistent with her Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University. Her legal background has informed her legislative work, particularly her extensive service on the House Judiciary Committee.

Details about her private life beyond these basic facts are limited in the public record, consistent with Lofgren's focus on her public duties rather than personal publicity.

Recognition

As one of the longest-serving members of the California congressional delegation, Lofgren has accumulated significant seniority and institutional authority within the House of Representatives. Her chairmanship of the House Ethics Committee (2009–2011), her chairmanship of the House Administration Committee (2019–2023), and her current role as Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee represent major leadership positions within the institution.

Lofgren's participation in the Junior State of America during her youth has been noted by the organization as an example of a JSA alumnus who went on to significant public service.

Her status as the first woman to represent California's 16th congressional district marked a milestone in the representation of women in Congress from the state of California. She has continued to serve through multiple redistricting cycles, demonstrating sustained electoral support across different district configurations.

Within Congress, Lofgren has been recognized by colleagues and observers for her substantive engagement with complex policy areas, particularly at the intersection of technology, law, and civil liberties. Her representation of a district at the center of the American technology industry has given her a distinctive policy profile among members of the House Democratic caucus.

Legacy

Zoe Lofgren's career in Congress, spanning more than three decades as of 2026, places her among the longer-serving members of the House of Representatives in the modern era. Her service has encompassed significant periods in American political history, from the Republican Revolution of 1994 through the political upheavals of the 2000s and 2020s.

Her consistent focus on technology policy, shaped by her representation of Silicon Valley, has positioned her as one of Congress's more informed voices on issues relating to the digital economy, Internet governance, and the regulation of technology companies. As the technology sector has grown in economic and political significance, Lofgren's district-driven expertise in these areas has taken on increasing importance.

On the Judiciary Committee, Lofgren has been involved in some of the most consequential debates of the modern Congress, including discussions of immigration reform, civil liberties in the post-September 11 era, and the oversight of federal law enforcement. Her legal training and decades of committee service have made her one of the more experienced voices on the panel.

Lofgren's chairmanship of the House Administration Committee during a period of intense debate over election administration and voting rights placed her at the center of efforts to address election security concerns and ensure the integrity of federal elections. Her work in this area has had lasting implications for how the House of Representatives approaches election-related legislation and oversight.

As Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lofgren continues to influence policy in areas ranging from federal research funding to space exploration oversight, ensuring that scientific and technological considerations remain central to congressional deliberations.