San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launches run for California governor

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launches run for California governor

Right, Mr. Mayor, you were weighing *** run for California governor. What’s the update? I’m in, Ashley, I’m gonna do it. I got home from *** late public meeting 3 weeks ago. My wife looked at me and said, I think you need to reconsider because we’ve been saying no for many months. We have *** young family, but we’re worried about the future of our state, and we know. I know that we need someone who’s gonna both fight for our values, but also solve and really fix our problems. And so that’s, that’s my focus. I know that we can do better as *** state. I know it because we’re proving that in San Jose. We have been dramatically more focused and accountable, and it’s driving big decreases in unsheltered homelessness and crime. We became the safest big city. In the country last year, we frankly have been failing to build the housing we need and we looked in the mirror, we also looked at the data and realized we’re in the way. Our, our fees are too high, our processes are too difficult, and with *** lot of reform, we started to unblock. Thousands of new homes in places that make sense, near transit, so that families can afford to live here. I believe there are solutions to our problems, but it takes *** particular kind of leadership, and I’m excited to bring that focus and accountability to Sacramento. OK, and in terms of, aside from the family greenlighting this, is there any other specific thing that prompted you ultimately to run? Well, through *** lot of reflection and conversation, including with neighbors at the grocery store over many weekends, uh, I think I’ve realized that this is how I can best serve the mission I set out on when I ran for mayor. I didn’t run for mayor to jump to another office. I’m entering my 4th year as mayor, and we’ve made *** lot of progress, but I know that making as much progress In the coming years, as we’ve made so far, is going to require Sacramento to be rowing with us to implement Prop 36, restore HAP funding, but make it more accountable and allow cities and counties and nonprofit providers to compete on the basis of outcomes. On how much it costs us to actually shelter people, get them connected to services, um, to continue the work on making it easier to start *** business, build *** home. Uh, I, I just, I, I think that I can best serve the mission I set out on by bringing that mindset and things that are working in San Jose to Sacramento, and then working with cities and counties, which I’m now quite intimately familiar with in terms of how they work, how they make policy, what the barriers are, to make sure that we’re all collectively accountable for delivering on safety and homelessness and housing costs and all the rest. Um, when it comes to, or, sorry, let me back up, um, there is *** wide field of Democrats already in this race, and many of them, all of them have really struggled in the polls to really jump ahead and become the front runner. What about your campaign, do you think is going to make you any different? Well, I think what’s different is that as *** current mayor of *** big city in the state that has *** track record of driving results on our biggest issues by, frankly, being more accountable, asking the public to hold us accountable so that we change our policies and find things that work. I, I do think that has been missing in this race. I spent *** lot of time engaging with the candidates, sharing ideas. I think we need *** more vocal advocate for the things I was just describing around Prop 36, intervening to get people the treatment that they need, making our homeless funding more accountable for outcomes, dealing with cycles of addiction and repeat offense, and using technology. to better target interventions and, and get, break cycles of, of crime and addiction. I, I think there’s *** lot we can do to deliver better results. We’re doing that in San Jose. I think I have *** track record and I’m willing to be vocal about the solutions we need no matter who it might offend or, or upset. Uh, Careco is *** great idea, but it’s the execution that’s still missing. And as *** Former CEO but also as *** former public school teacher, I’m very focused on the execution side of it. How do we actually make sure things connect and work and practice, and can we measure real progress? And I, I think we need more of that in our state capital. For the people of San Jose, I mean, with your success, for those who might be upset that they could lose their mayor, what is your message to them? My message is that after *** lot of reflection and *** lot of conversation with neighbors, this is the best way to carry on the mission we set out on when I ran 4 years ago. We’ve come *** long way, made *** lot of progress. The best way I can see to continue that progress is to make sure that Sacramento is just as focused and accountable as we’ve been in San Jose. I set out to end unsheltered homelessness, where maybe we’ll see what the next count, maybe we’re 1/3 of the way there, getting all the way there is going to require the state to hold every city and county accountable. I’ve talked about *** fair share framework where everybody’s accountable for building shelter, building treatment beds, and requiring that people use them when they’re available. We need that vision and accountability from the top. Down, but also *** partnership with cities and counties to deliver those better results. So I just, I, I think, I hope that residents know that my only motivation here is to deliver the outcomes we need and that so many of the barriers we face involve policies, regulations, and budget decisions being made in Sacramento. So what is candidate for governor Mayhan’s first move? Where’s, where’s your first stop? Well, I know I’m gonna be on the road *** lot, which with two little kids means unfortunately, *** lot of uh bedtimes over, over FaceTime, but uh I, you know, I’m, I’m fairly, you know, I know *** lot of folks in the Bay Area, but I’m gonna need to get around the state and introduce myself and what we’ve done in San Jose. And the vision I’m trying to bring to Sacramento for building ***, *** better state, delivering on these, on these big issues, I need to take that out directly to The voters across the state and listen to them, and I know that it’s *** big and diverse state. As, as much as I know our state, I know that there’s *** lot that I don’t know, and I want to hear from folks in the ag industry in the Central Valley. I grew up in *** little farming town. I want to hear more about their issues, just like I want to get down. and spend more time in Southern California and all across the state to really listen to people and make sure that we’re highlighting the best solutions and that I’m, I’m correct about what our biggest challenges are, but I, I think, and what I’m hearing from people is, it’s about economic opportunity. Upward mobility, the ability to buy *** home here, to have *** good high-paying job, and everybody deserves to live in neighborhoods that are safe and clean. And we’re, we’re gonna make that happen. We’ve been doing that in San Jose and I think we can do even better if we have *** state government laser focused on those issues. Awesome. That’s all I have for you. Anything else you think we should know? I think we covered it. Yeah, I think we covered it. Um, Tasha is telling me I have to, I have to, I will just, um, I’ll just add since you didn’t. Ask me, but I, look, I, I think it’s important that we, I sort of said something to this effect, but in case it’s useful to you. I think it’s important that our next governor is *** fighter for our values and willing to stand up to overreach from the federal government, willing to use the law as *** tool to protect our people and our values, but also needs to fix our problems. And show that the best resistance is delivering results. We need to prove that our values are the right values because they work in practice. They actually give people greater opportunity, greater upward mobility, and I want to focus on both sides of that, and I will as governor.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launches run for California governor

Updated: 6:00 AM PST Jan 29, 2026

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is officially running for California governor. The moderate Democrat had been weighing the decision for weeks after struggling to endorse one of the many Democrats in the wide field of candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out after 2026. “I got home from a late public meeting three weeks ago, my wife looked at me and said ‘I think you need to reconsider,’ because we had been saying no for many months,” Mahan said in an interview with California Politics 360. “We need someone who is going to both fight for our values but also solve and fix our problems. That’s my focus. I know we can do better because we’re proving that in San Jose. I’m excited to bring that focus and accountability to Sacramento.”(Watch a recent interview with Mahan for California Politics 360 in the video player below.)Mahan was elected mayor of San Jose in 2022 and has since been praised by people in both political parties for his approach to crime, homelessness, the cost of living and his fearlessness in calling out Gov. Gavin Newsom on those issues. Prior to his time as mayor, he served on the city council and, before that, worked in the tech industry. Mahan has two young children and has said he is worried about how the direction of this state could impact young families like his.The race has yet to have a clear Democratic front-runner, as candidates grapple with lukewarm poll numbers. When asked what makes his campaign any different, he pointed to his role as mayor and his track record of results on homelessness and crime. “I do think that’s been missing in this race,” he said. “We need a more vocal advocate,” he said, referencing the lack of full implementation of crime measure Prop 36, along with the state’s mental health, homelessness and housing issues. When asked what his message is to the people of San Jose who may be upset they are losing their mayor, he said this is the best way to carry out the mission he set out when he was first elected. “The best way to continue that progress is to make sure Sacramento is just as focused and accountable,” Mahan said. As California clashes with the Trump administration, Mahan said it’s important the next governor is a fighter for the state’s values. “But also, needs to fix our problems and show that the best resistance is delivering results,” Mahan said. “We need to prove our values are the right values because they work in practice, they give people greater opportunity and greater upward mobility.” Other Democrats running for governor include former Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Controller Betty Yee, climate activist Tom Steyer, Congressman Eric Swalwell, former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the Republican side are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and political commentator Steve Hilton. KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is officially running for California governor.

The moderate Democrat had been weighing the decision for weeks after struggling to endorse one of the many Democrats in the wide field of candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out after 2026.

“I got home from a late public meeting three weeks ago, my wife looked at me and said ‘I think you need to reconsider,’ because we had been saying no for many months,” Mahan said in an interview with California Politics 360. “We need someone who is going to both fight for our values but also solve and fix our problems. That’s my focus. I know we can do better because we’re proving that in San Jose. I’m excited to bring that focus and accountability to Sacramento.”

(Watch a recent interview with Mahan for California Politics 360 in the video player below.)

Mahan was elected mayor of San Jose in 2022 and has since been praised by people in both political parties for his approach to crime, homelessness, the cost of living and his fearlessness in calling out Gov. Gavin Newsom on those issues.

Prior to his time as mayor, he served on the city council and, before that, worked in the tech industry. Mahan has two young children and has said he is worried about how the direction of this state could impact young families like his.

The race has yet to have a clear Democratic front-runner, as candidates grapple with lukewarm poll numbers. When asked what makes his campaign any different, he pointed to his role as mayor and his track record of results on homelessness and crime.

“I do think that’s been missing in this race,” he said. “We need a more vocal advocate,” he said, referencing the lack of full implementation of crime measure Prop 36, along with the state’s mental health, homelessness and housing issues.

When asked what his message is to the people of San Jose who may be upset they are losing their mayor, he said this is the best way to carry out the mission he set out when he was first elected.

“The best way to continue that progress is to make sure Sacramento is just as focused and accountable,” Mahan said.

As California clashes with the Trump administration, Mahan said it’s important the next governor is a fighter for the state’s values.

“But also, needs to fix our problems and show that the best resistance is delivering results,” Mahan said. “We need to prove our values are the right values because they work in practice, they give people greater opportunity and greater upward mobility.”

Other Democrats running for governor include former Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Controller Betty Yee, climate activist Tom Steyer, Congressman Eric Swalwell, former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

On the Republican side are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and political commentator Steve Hilton.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel