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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced Thursday he is entering California’s increasingly competitive gubernatorial race, positioning himself as a moderate Democrat with practical solutions to the state’s most pressing challenges.
Mahan, who has led Silicon Valley’s largest city since 2022, cited his administration’s progress on reducing unsheltered homelessness, accelerating housing development by cutting bureaucratic red tape, and improving police effectiveness in solving homicides.
“As mayor of a big city, I’m closer to the challenges we face and the solutions we need than anyone else in this race,” Mahan said in a phone interview Thursday. “Cities are on the front lines of solving problems for people in their everyday lives.”
The 43-year-old Harvard graduate promised to be both “a fighter for California values” and “a fixer” focused on delivering tangible results for residents. His entry adds another prominent name to an already crowded field vying to replace term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026.
The Democratic candidates include former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, and current Congressman Eric Swalwell. On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton have also declared their candidacies.
With months remaining before the June primary, no clear Democratic frontrunner has emerged. Several political heavyweights who had been considered potential contenders, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have opted not to run.
Mahan has established himself as one of Newsom’s more vocal critics among California Democrats. He publicly disagreed with the governor’s approach to addressing homelessness and backed a controversial 2024 ballot measure that strengthened penalties for shoplifting and drug offenses, putting him at odds with Newsom. Last year, Mahan also published an op-ed criticizing the governor’s focus on former President Donald Trump and his confrontational social media presence.
When asked about Mahan’s candidacy during a San Francisco event, Newsom acknowledged he doesn’t know the mayor well, simply offering: “I wish him good luck.”
Before entering politics, Mahan built a career in the technology sector, co-founding Brigade, a digital political organizing platform. His tech industry connections run deep—he was a college classmate of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who reportedly encouraged Mahan to pursue a career in technology rather than law. His candidacy has already attracted support from notable tech and business figures, including billionaire Rick Caruso, venture capitalist Garry Tan, and angel investor Matt Brezina.
Mahan’s political ascent has been relatively swift. He was first elected to the San Jose City Council in 2020 before winning the mayoralty in 2022, defeating a candidate backed by labor organizations. His hands-on approach to governance includes regularly participating in weekend clean-up efforts along San Jose waterways and city parks.
His approach to homelessness has generated both praise and controversy. Last year, despite opposition from county officials, Mahan successfully advocated for a provision making homeless individuals eligible for arrest if they refuse three offers of shelter—a policy that reflects his pragmatic but sometimes contentious approach to governance.
Mahan indicated that his decision to enter the race came after hosting several gubernatorial candidates in San Jose in recent months, saying none had impressed him sufficiently. His campaign is expected to emphasize his executive experience as mayor and his track record of practical problem-solving in California’s third-largest city.
As California faces ongoing challenges with housing affordability, homelessness, crime, and climate change, Mahan’s entry into the race adds a voice advocating for what he characterizes as common-sense, results-oriented governance from the political center.
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7 Comments
I’m curious to learn more about the mayor’s specific policy proposals and how he plans to differentiate himself from the other Democratic candidates in the crowded field.
As a Silicon Valley mayor, the mayor may be able to leverage his tech and innovation background to appeal to younger, more progressive voters. But he’ll also need to convince more traditional Democrats.
The mayor’s focus on reducing homelessness, accelerating housing development, and improving public safety seems like a pragmatic approach. As a big city mayor, he may have valuable on-the-ground experience to bring to the table.
Overall, the mayor’s entry into the race adds an interesting new dynamic. It will be worth following how his campaign unfolds and whether he can gain traction against the more established candidates.
It will be interesting to see how the mayor navigates the Democratic primary given the presence of more established candidates like Becerra and Porter. His outsider status could be an asset or a liability.
Interesting that the San Jose mayor is jumping into the California governor’s race, especially given his past criticism of Newsom. It will be fascinating to see how he positions himself as a moderate Democrat with practical solutions.
Given the mayor’s Harvard background and his stated goal of being a ‘fixer’ focused on tangible results, he could potentially appeal to moderate voters looking for a pragmatic problem-solver.