San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, 43, announced his bid for governor of California, entering a crowded Democratic primary to succeed term-limited Gavin Newsom. A former tech entrepreneur elected mayor in 2022, Mahan touts pragmatic policies that he says improved public safety and reduced homelessness in San Jose. He has drawn criticism for backing Proposition 36, a 2024 tough-on-crime measure, and highlights a campaign focused on state issues—homelessness, crime and cost of living—rather than national politics.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan Enters California Governor’s Race, Promises Pragmatic Focus on Homelessness and Cost of Living
Matt Mahan speaks in San Jose, California, on 12 February 2025.Photograph: Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for California Conference for Women(Photograph: Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for California Conference for Women)
Matt Mahan, the centrist Democratic mayor of San Jose, announced on Thursday that he is running for governor of California, joining a crowded Democratic field vying to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.
Background and Record
Mahan, 43, a former tech entrepreneur first elected mayor of California’s largest city in Silicon Valley in 2022, has promoted a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to city governance. He credits his policies with helping make San Jose one of the safest large U.S. cities and with contributing to a notable reduction in homelessness — a persistent challenge for many of the state’s biggest metropolitan areas.
Controversies and Criticism
That pragmatic stance has drawn criticism from some progressives. Mahan was among the few prominent Democrats to back Proposition 36 in 2024, a tough-on-crime ballot measure that increased penalties for certain drug- and theft-related offenses. Opponents argued the measure risked rolling back criminal-justice reforms.
Contrast With Newsom And Campaign Focus
Mahan has been an outspoken critic of Governor Gavin Newsom — who is ineligible to run again due to term limits — faulting the incumbent’s handling of homelessness, public-safety strategies and even his high-profile social-media jabs. In announcing his campaign, Mahan positioned himself as an alternative to candidates who he says are focused on national politics or personality-driven campaigns.
“We have a lot of candidates following a tired playbook. They’re either running against Trump or they’re running in his image. I’m running for the future of California,” Mahan told Politico.
Race Dynamics
Mahan has not previously held statewide or federal office, but he had signaled interest in a gubernatorial bid in recent weeks. His entry, months before the June primary, underscores an unsettled contest that has yet to produce a clear frontrunner. Other Democrats already in the race include former Congresswoman Katie Porter, Congressman Eric Swalwell, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and billionaire activist Tom Steyer.
Welcoming Mahan’s candidacy, Steyer said in a statement: “California needs a governor who will stand up to powerful interests, not carry their water.” The race is likely to center on homelessness, housing affordability, public safety and how to balance reform-minded policies with pragmatic implementation at scale.
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