San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has announced his candidacy for California governor, emphasizing accountability, public safety, housing affordability, and homelessness reform in a competitive 2026 race.
Matt Mahan, the Democratic mayor of San Jose, has officially entered the race for California governor, focusing his campaign on key issues such as government accountability, public safety, housing affordability, and homelessness reform.
Mahan joins a crowded field of candidates for the 2026 election, which includes prominent Democrats like Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, and Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
Recent polling indicates a lack of a clear frontrunner in the race. While Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton have led in some surveys, candidates like Tom Steyer and Katie Porter remain competitive. Mahan has typically polled in the mid-single digits statewide.
Under California’s open primary system, all candidates will appear on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to the general election.
Born in Watsonville, California, Mahan is the son of a schoolteacher and a letter carrier. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose on scholarship and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.
Before his tenure as mayor, Mahan taught middle school in San Jose through Teach for America and later worked on civic technology initiatives aimed at enhancing public participation in government. He was elected to the San Jose City Council in 2020 and became mayor in 2023.
In a May 7 interview hosted by American Community Media, Mahan reflected on his experience leading a diverse city where over 40% of residents are foreign-born and half speak a language other than English at home. He stated, “I know what it means for government to work to deliver better education, safer neighborhoods, more affordable housing and utilities, and what it means for working families when government’s not working effectively.”
On the topic of immigration, Mahan criticized both political parties for failing to address the issue adequately, leaving vulnerable individuals in challenging situations. He remarked, “For decades, the country had a very porous border. I think both parties were complicit and wanted low-cost labor.”
Mahan advocates for creating a pathway to permanent legal status, ideally leading to citizenship, while also emphasizing the need for strengthened legal immigration and border security. “I’m a pragmatist,” he explained, suggesting that a balanced approach is essential.
He characterized calls to abolish ICE as largely symbolic but acknowledged the frustration behind them. Mahan believes that the agency requires significant reform, if not a complete overhaul, emphasizing the need to recognize the humanity of all individuals within the country.
During his time as mayor, Mahan has been vocal against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, stating, “We’ve sued the Trump administration a dozen times.” He has supported measures to limit ICE activities on city property and has increased funding for immigrant legal services, asserting that ICE agents should face prosecution for violating California law. “And as governor, I will continue that fight,” he vowed.
Mahan also highlighted the importance of H-1B visa holders and other work-visa residents to California’s economy and educational institutions. He stated, “I really believe our strength in California is our ability to welcome, support, integrate, and create upward mobility and opportunity for a very diverse population of people from all over the world.”
In discussing healthcare, Mahan noted the challenges posed by reduced federal funding following H.R. 1. He collaborated with county supervisors to support Measure A, a five-year sales tax aimed at offsetting some of these losses. However, he acknowledged that local measures alone cannot bridge the funding gap and proposed several innovative solutions.
These include reducing administrative overhead, implementing better audits to combat waste and fraud, expanding telehealth services, and allowing nurses and nurse practitioners to practice at the “top of their license” in underserved areas. He also suggested using loan forgiveness as an incentive for medical professionals to work in communities with limited access to healthcare.
As the only millennial in the race, Mahan expressed concern over California’s housing shortage, which he believes is driving young people out of the state. “We’ve reduced homelessness by one-third in my time as mayor,” he stated, attributing this success to the construction of thousands of homes. He lamented the exodus of friends and family, noting, “I’m tired of my friends moving away. My sisters both moved out of state. So many of my friends have left.”
Mahan pointed to San Jose’s efforts to cut development fees and expedite permitting processes to boost housing construction. He criticized California’s low homeownership rate, attributing it to regulatory hurdles and construction liability lawsuits that complicate condo development. He called for reforms to lower costs and facilitate housing construction, stating, “This is really paralyzing the state and harming our ability to create opportunity for people.”
Addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs, Mahan emphasized San Jose’s proactive approach to regulating technology. He highlighted the Gov AI Coalition, a regulatory framework for ethical AI use that has been adopted by 900 cities and counties nationwide.
While San Jose utilizes AI to enhance services such as public transportation and translation, Mahan acknowledged the importance of investing in human capital to manage technological change effectively. He argued for the need to regulate tech companies, which are significant contributors to California’s tax base, without driving them away. “We tax them,” he stated, advocating for their investment in future infrastructure while meeting sustainability goals.
Mahan also suggested considering policies like Universal Basic Income if automation leads to substantial job losses.
On the topic of reparations and racial equity, Mahan acknowledged the legal and political challenges of implementing reparations. Instead, he supports an equity-focused approach that directs resources to improve homeownership, education, and infrastructure in underserved communities, aiming to uplift communities of color affected by historical and institutional racism.
Regarding his relationship with Silicon Valley, Mahan addressed criticisms of being labeled as the “candidate of Silicon Valley billionaires.” He argued that tech leaders support his campaign because they value results. “They’ve seen the incredible results we’ve delivered,” he said, emphasizing that many in the tech industry prioritize outcomes and effective governance.
Mahan concluded by asserting his commitment to outcomes over ideology, stating, “I am relentless about outcomes and equitable outcomes.” He pointed to his background as a public school teacher and his dedication to empowering grassroots organizers through civic technology as central to his life’s work.
As the race for California governor heats up, Mahan’s focus on data-driven solutions and community engagement may resonate with voters seeking effective leadership.
According to India Currents.
