{"id":155415,"date":"2026-01-29T20:42:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T20:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/155415\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T20:42:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T20:42:06","slug":"san-jose-mayor-a-frequent-newsom-critic-jumps-into-the-california-governors-race-the-mendocino-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/155415\/","title":{"rendered":"San Jose mayor, a frequent Newsom critic, jumps into the California governor’s race \u2022 The Mendocino Voice"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is part of a partnership between The Mendocino Voice and The Associated Press to bring relevant fact-based and nonpartisan news and information to Mendocino County readers through the AP Fund for Journalism. Learn more about the program here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO, 1\/29\/26 (AP) \u2014 San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan on Thursday announced he\u2019s joining the crowded race for California governor, casting himself as a moderate Democrat with a track record of tackling some of the state\u2019s most persistent issues including homelessness and crime.<\/p>\n

Elected to lead Silicon Valley\u2019s largest city in 2022, Mahan said his policies have reduced the number of unsheltered homeless in the city, cut fees to speed up housing construction and helped police solve more homicides.<\/p>\n

Mahan joins a large and unsettled field of contenders hoping to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n

Months ahead of the June primary, no Democrat has emerged as a clear frontrunner. The race includes former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra<\/a>, former U.S. House member Katie Porter<\/a>, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell<\/a>, among others. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco<\/a> and conservative commentator Steve Hilton<\/a> have also announced their bids.<\/p>\n

Mahan has emerged as a frequent critic of Newsom. He lambasted Newsom over his handling of homelessness and bucked him in 2024 by backing a tough-on-crime ballot measure<\/a> to increase penalties for some shoplifting and drug offenses. Mahan also criticized Newsom\u2019s focus on President Donald Trump and the governor\u2019s social media trolling in an op-ed<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m running to bring focus back to government. To give cities the tools they need to succeed. To show that the best resistance to division is results,\u201d Mahan said in a post announcing his candidacy. \u201cAnd to prove that California can work again \u2014 for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newsom, who\u2019s seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, is termed out after this year and cannot run for reelection. Other Democratic heavyweights, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney General Rob Bonta, decided not to run.<\/p>\n

Mahan, a 43-year-old Harvard graduate, has deep ties with the tech industry. He was a tech entrepreneur before he ran for public offices, co-founding a digital political organizing platform called Brigade. He was classmates with Mark Zuckerberg, who Mahan said persuaded him to go into tech<\/a> instead of law school. Some tech and business leaders, including billionaire Rick Caruso, venture capitalist Garry Tan and angel investor Matt Brezina, already signaled they would support Mahan\u2019s bid.<\/p>\n

Mahan in recent months also hosted a number of gubernatorial candidates in San Jose, but said no one has impressed him. Mahan was first elected as a city councilmember in 2020 before he won the mayoral election in 2022 against a labor-backed candidate.<\/p>\n

He often joins weekend clean-up efforts along San Jose waterways and city parks. Last year, over opposition from county officials, he successfully pushed a provision to make homeless people eligible for arrest<\/a> if they reject three offers of shelters.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n

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