San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said on Monday that he is seriously considering a run for California governor. “I’m not seeing the vision, the boldness that we need as a state if we’re going to move forward,” Mahan, a Democrat, said of the wide field of Democrats that have jumped into the race so far. In an interview with California Politics 360, Mahan said he’ll decide within the next couple of weeks. Mahan was in Sacramento meeting with state lawmakers to discuss a housing proposal that could make it easier to build condos in the state. Mahan has been mayor of San Jose since 2023 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. Mahan was one of a few Democratic leaders who were outspoken about his support for Proposition 36, the crime measure voters overwhelmingly approved to crack down on repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers. California’s Democratic Legislative Leaders and Gov. Newsom opposed and fought the measure. Mahan has been critical of Democratic state leaders’ unwillingness to provide resources needed to make the new crime measure effective in its first year, while also having concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s approach to mental health, homelessness and the cost of living overall. San Jose has been considered one of the happiest and safest cities to live in the United States since Mahan took office. “I’ve been trying my best to just focus on delivering for the residents of San Jose,” Mahan said. “But I’m increasingly worried about the direction the state’s going in, and I realize that I can’t do my job as mayor and deliver a safer, cleaner, more affordable city if Sacramento isn’t implementing policies that work.” Mahan spent the last couple of months talking about a “back to basics agenda” that he hoped some of the candidates would support. “I’m not seeing any of the current candidates speak clearly and boldly about flexible and accountable funding for getting people off the streets, intervening in cycles of addiction and mental illness and putting out a real plan for how we get people the help that they need and properly implement tools we need like Prop 36, Care Court and SB 43,” Mahan said.SB 43 refers to a recently passed state law that reformed the state’s conservatorship laws. “On affordability, there’s a lot of talk at a high level,” he said. “But we’re making decisions in California that are driving up the cost of energy.” Mahan pointed to oil refinery closures that are expected to leave California with fewer facilities, an uncertain future for the state’s only nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, and concerns around the politics over who is benefiting from which types of clean energy. “I think we could be bolder, I think we could be more innovative,” he said. “Californians have been saying this very clearly, I hear this all the time in San Jose: they want a government that works.” Watch the full interview in the video player below: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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said on Monday that he is seriously considering a run for California governor.

“I’m not seeing the vision, the boldness that we need as a state if we’re going to move forward,” Mahan, a Democrat, said of the wide field of Democrats that have jumped into the race so far.

In an interview with California Politics 360, Mahan said he’ll decide within the next couple of weeks. Mahan was in Sacramento meeting with state lawmakers to discuss a housing proposal that could make it easier to build condos in the state.

Mahan has been mayor of San Jose since 2023 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.

Mahan was one of a few Democratic leaders who were outspoken about his support for Proposition 36, the crime measure voters overwhelmingly approved to crack down on repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers. California’s Democratic Legislative Leaders and Gov. Newsom opposed and fought the measure.

Mahan has been critical of Democratic state leaders’ unwillingness to provide resources needed to make the new crime measure effective in its first year, while also having concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s approach to mental health, homelessness and the cost of living overall.

San Jose has been considered one of the happiest and safest cities to live in the United States since Mahan took office.

“I’ve been trying my best to just focus on delivering for the residents of San Jose,” Mahan said. “But I’m increasingly worried about the direction the state’s going in, and I realize that I can’t do my job as mayor and deliver a safer, cleaner, more affordable city if Sacramento isn’t implementing policies that work.”

Mahan spent the last couple of months talking about a “back to basics agenda” that he hoped some of the candidates would support.

“I’m not seeing any of the current candidates speak clearly and boldly about flexible and accountable funding for getting people off the streets, intervening in cycles of addiction and mental illness and putting out a real plan for how we get people the help that they need and properly implement tools we need like Prop 36, Care Court and SB 43,” Mahan said.

SB 43 refers to a recently passed state law that reformed the state’s conservatorship laws.

“On affordability, there’s a lot of talk at a high level,” he said. “But we’re making decisions in California that are driving up the cost of energy.”

Mahan pointed to oil refinery closures that are expected to leave California with fewer facilities, an uncertain future for the state’s only nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, and concerns around the politics over who is benefiting from which types of clean energy.

“I think we could be bolder, I think we could be more innovative,” he said. “Californians have been saying this very clearly, I hear this all the time in San Jose: they want a government that works.”

Watch the full interview in the video player below:

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.