Matt Mahan, the current mayor of San Jose, gained political prominence as his popularity rose in the Bay Area city: He was reelected with a large margin in 2024 after being credited for reducing homelessness.
The San Francisco native now wants to bring the similar vision and plans for the entire state of California as a moderate candidate with strong backing from business and tech industry leaders, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Despite joining the race relatively later than others, Mahan showed higher poll numbers compared to some of the rivals.
Who is Matt Mahan?
Mahan is the youngest candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race.
After graduating from Harvard University, the 43-year-old taught middle school students through Teach for America.
His career in tech and business began when he started a startup called Causes, then later Brigade.
He jumped into politics in 2020 when he became a San Jose city councilmember. Two years later, he became the mayor. He was reelected in 2024.
Mahan now has his eyes on the California governor’s office as he pitches himself as a moderate to Californians.
What are Mahan’s proposals
Mahan’s main campaign pledges are combatting homelessness and resolving the housing affordability crisis. He’s proposing to pause taxes for for two years on new homes, which he said would spur new home construction, thus making housing more affordable.
Mahan’s campaign touts that the San Jose mayor’s approach to homelessness has led to a 10% reduction in the number of unhoused people between 2023 and 2025 in the city. Mahan is pitching the similar approach: expand the use of “tiny homes” and interim housing to get people off the streets.
He also is pushing to require homeless people to receive treatment for drug and alcohol addiction as well as other mental health issues.
NBC4’s Conan Nolan talks with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan about the race for California governor. Video broadcast Sunday April 12, 2026 on NBC4.
What does Mahan say about immigration?
Mahan is aligned with the Democratic Party that he does not believe local cities and police department should cooperate with federal authorities on immigration. However, San Jose has been calling itself a “welcoming city,” instead of a sanctuary city.
Mahan is a support of the No Secret Police Act, a state law that would prohibit federal agents from wearing masks when conducting operations in public. (A federal judge blocked the law last month.)
As he did for the city of San Jose, Mahan is pledging to set aside funding to defend immigrant communities in the state budget, so the funding can be used to provide urgent financial assistance to immigrant families to pay for essentials, such as rent and food.
What are controversies surrounding Mahan?
Mahan has been raising money for his gubernatorial campaign quickly through his tech and business connections, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. The billionaire connection has led critics to call him a billionaire puppet.
Mahan has clashed with his own party over the state gas tax and Proposition 36, which sought to increase penalties for drug and theft crimes.
The idea of suspending the state gas tax has been generally endorsed by Republicans, including GOP gubernatorial candidates. But Mahan has said the state gas tax is burdening working families, especially when California’s gas prices have reached over $6 a gallon.
Mahan also split with party leadership by supporting Prop 36, the 2024 ballot measure to increase penalties for drug and theft crimes, a move Newsom and many progressives opposed.