San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announces run for governor (Inside California Politics) — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is entering an already crowded race for governor, telling Inside California Politics host Nikki Laurenzo that “we need to fix California.” That’s a change of tune for the Bay Area mayor, who just last month said he would run for governor as a last resort. Watching the race unfold so far, Mahan said he feels like he’s closer to the state’s problems — and solutions — than other candidates. “I know that we can do better in California,” he said. “I know that because we are proving it in San Jose.” Those solutions aren’t new and shiny, Mahan said, adding that the state should look to his successes in San Jose as a blueprint. He pointed to reductions in homelessness and crime, as well as efforts he has taken to cut red tape around housing construction. “Ideas are cheap,” he said. “Execution is everything.” FILE - San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, right, discusses California Gov. Gavin Newsom's, left, proposal to build 1,200 small homes across the state to reduce homelessness, during the first of a four-day tour of the state in Sacramento Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Mahan suggested at least a few ideas lawmakers should try, though, including having cities, counties and nonprofits compete for funding based on their success at addressing homelessness. “There are solutions to our biggest problems, but it requires focus and accountability — [and] an ability to admit when the things we are doing aren’t working and change our policies.” Mahan acknowledged that cuts will be necessary as the state faces a structural budget deficit. “We will have to cut things to balance the budget,” Mahan said in an interview with Laurenzo. “The job of a governor is to be direct with people about our priorities,” he said. “I would prioritize ending homelessness, promoting public safety and removing barriers to growing the economy.” In the long run, Mahan believes job and economic growth will help fix the state’s fiscal situation. He said the state hasn’t done enough to promote entrepreneurship and investment and reiterated his opposition to the proposed “Billionaires Tax.” “What people really want is economic opportunity and a fair shot,” Mahan said. Mahan isn’t a fan of performative politics and “meme wars” with President Donald Trump, but the San Jose mayor said he would stand up for the state’s residents and rights. He criticized the rise of “populist fervor” on the left and the right. “In the long run, the best resistance is delivering results,” Mahan said. A political outsider? Mahan entered the political arena in 2020 when he was elected to the San Jose City Council. The next year, he announced a campaign for mayor, a position he won in 2022 in a narrow race against Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. In that race, Mahan focused on government accountability and pragmatism — cultivating a following as a moderate candidate, a lane he’ll likely look to fill in the gubernatorial race. He’s also made housing and homelessness main pillars of his administration, touting a 20% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2022. Read more: ‘It’s a joke’: San Jose mayor slams Legislature over lack of Prop 36 funding Mahan has also become a prominent intra-party critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom, including attacking Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature over a lack of funding for Proposition 36, which passed in November 2024 without a funding mechanism in place. Speaking with Inside California Politics, Mahan said his disagreements with Newsom haven’t been personal or political — he simply disagrees with the current governor on certain policies. Shaking up the race Mahan’s entry could shake up what’s been a lethargic primary race so far. Several high-profile potential contestants have chosen not to run, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Rob Bonta, billionaire developer Rick Caruso and both of the state’s U.S. senators. Those that have entered the race haven’t gained much traction, either. That list includes former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, current U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who previously served as the state’s attorney general. Early polling for the gubernatorial primary isn’t pleasant for any Democratic candidate. In fact, several recent polls show both major Republican hopefuls — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News Channel contributor Steve Hilton — earning more support than any Democrat. California’s jungle primary system means the top two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. Candidates have rarely cracked 20% in most polls so far, so the bar to relevancy — and a shot at the governor’s mansion — is not too high. What sets Mahan apart from his many opponents, he said, is his mindset. “As a former public school teacher, as a founder and entrepreneur in the tech industry, as now a mayor for the last three years — what I have done in all of those different roles is work with other people to set goals and to be accountable for outcomes,” Mahan said. “I like solving problems.” Background personal life Before entering politics, Mahan graduated from Harvard University and later joined tech startup Causes, an early civic technology app for Facebook. According to Joint Venture, he rose through the ranks to eventually become the company’s CEO before co-founding Brigade Media, another civic engagement platform. Despite his elite education, Mahan touts a more working-class background: his parents were a school teacher and a letter carrier. Mahan’s wife, Silvia Scandar Mahan, is president and CEO of Cristo Rey, a private Catholic school in San Jose. The couple lives and raises their two children, Nina and Luke, in the city’s Almaden neighborhood. ...read more read less