San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan on Thursday joined the race for California governor, putting to rest months of will-he-won’t-he speculation about his gubernatorial ambitions.
“We need to stand up for our rights, for our freedoms and for our neighbors. We need to use the tools we have at hand to protect our democracy,” Mahan posted on social media. “One tool is the law. The other tool is our results. We have to use both. That’s how we fix California.”
Over the past two years, even as Mahan has taken steps to extend his statewide political profile, he has downplayed rumors that he is seeking higher office, consistently stating he remains focused on his duties as mayor.
However, in recent weeks Mahan signaled his thinking had changed, teasing on a number of TV news appearances that he would soon announce his decision on a possible run. Then last week, San José Spotlight reported that residents received a text poll gauging support for Mahan, adding yet another sign of growing momentum for an attempt at the governor’s mansion.
Mahan’s forays into statewide politics have already laid some of the groundwork for his burgeoning campaign. Over the past two years, he has made frequent TV appearances up and down the state, often picking policy fights with Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Late last year, he launched his own 501(c)(4) political advocacy organization known as Back to Basics with his former chief of staff at the helm. The organization is intended to build a statewide political coalition around Mahan’s policy agenda centered on housing affordability, homelessness and crime concerns. In December, Mahan hosted several gubernatorial candidates at a homeless housing site in San Jose, pressing for their buy-in to the city’s strategy focused on rapid expansion of temporary homeless shelters.
https://x.com/mattmahansj/status/2016884861559312529?s=46
All the while, Mahan has sought to position himself as a pragmatic problem solver focused on the most vexing challenges facing California residents.
But with just four months left to go before the June primary election, Mahan’s candidacy faces a daunting uphill climb.
The already crowded candidate list includes East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, former state Controller Betty Yee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Assemblymember Ian Calderon, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and billionaire Tom Steyer.
To succeed, Mahan will also need to break out of the local media bubble that historically has made it difficult for San Jose politicians to succeed in statewide politics. The city, California’s third largest, has never produced a competitive candidate for governor in its modern history.
This story will be updated.
Contact Keith Menconi at [email protected] or @KeithMenconi on X.