SACRAMENTO, Calif. (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 Mahan vowed to be a fighter for California values and \u201ca fixer\u201d who could deliver results.<\/p>\n \u201cAs mayor of a big city, I\u2019m closer to the challenges we face and the solutions we need than anyone else in this race,\u201d Mahan said in a phone interview Thursday. \u201cCities are on the front lines of solving problems for people in their everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Newsom, who\u2019s seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, 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 Asked about Mahan\u2019s candidacy at an event in San Francisco, Newsom said he doesn\u2019t know the mayor well, adding, \u201cI wish him good luck.\u201d<\/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