SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is launching a new statewide effort to bring California’s city leaders together and push for better results from state government. His plan, called the “Back to Basics Agenda,” focuses on improving housing, homelessness, and public safety — issues he says Sacramento has failed to manage effectively.
At a Sacramento Press Club event on Monday, Mahan announced his plan to create a united coalition of mayors across California. The goal is to develop clear priorities and present them to candidates running for governor in 2026.
“We have not had the kind of partnership and focus that we need from Sacramento,” Mahan said. “If you want the support of the people leading our cities, you need to listen to what we need to deliver results.”
Mahan, a Democrat known for challenging the state’s political establishment, said the effort welcomes leaders from both major parties. He has already spoken with Fresno’s Republican Mayor Jerry Dyer and plans to reach out to other mayors across the state’s largest cities.
The Back to Basics Agenda aims to focus California’s attention on practical solutions that directly affect residents’ daily lives. Mahan said he wants to see better coordination between local governments and Sacramento to make sure taxpayer money leads to real results.
“Our residents care about safety, housing, and getting people off the streets,” Mahan said. “We need to focus on what works and get back to the basics of good governance.”
The mayor’s push comes at a politically sensitive moment for California, as potential candidates prepare to run for governor. Mahan said many of them are already seeking endorsements from local leaders like him, making this the right time to present a unified local agenda.
Mahan’s call for reform follows a year of tension between him and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Their relationship soured during the campaign for Proposition 36, a crime measure that increased penalties for repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers.
Mahan strongly supported the measure, arguing it was needed to restore accountability and improve public safety. Newsom opposed it, warning it could lead to higher incarceration rates.
“I have texted him a couple of times,” Mahan said of the governor. “We haven’t had a great conversation since Prop 36.”
The mayor said Proposition 36 was about giving people a second chance — but only if they completed drug or mental health treatment programs. “We have to stop the revolving door in our justice system,” Mahan said.
Mahan also weighed in on another high-profile issue — Proposition 50, a ballot measure to change California’s congressional district maps. Newsom supports the proposal, which Democrats say will counter Republican-led redistricting in other states.
When told that the measure would cost $282 million to place on the ballot, Mahan pointed out that it was more than what the state spent to implement Prop 36.
“I’m going to hold my nose and vote for it,” Mahan said. “I think you have two really bad options. I frankly don’t like either.”
He added that two of California’s best political reforms were open primaries and independent redistricting commissions, saying he continues to support both.
Despite growing attention and speculation about his future, Mahan said he is not planning to run for governor anytime soon.
“I’m focused on delivering results as mayor of San Jose,” Mahan said.
Mahan’s statewide push signals a growing frustration among local leaders who feel Sacramento’s bureaucracy is slowing progress. His effort to unite mayors across party lines could give local governments a stronger voice in shaping the next governor’s priorities.
“This isn’t about politics,” Mahan said. “It’s about making sure government works for the people again.”