Bay Area Mayor Joins Race For CA Governor

SAN JOSE, CA — Matt Mahan, the centrist Democrat who serves as San Jose's mayor, declared his candidacy for governor of California on Thursday, joining the extensive race to succeed Gavin Newsom.

Elected as mayor of Silicon Valley's largest city in 2022, Mahan, 43, previously worked as a tech entrepreneur.

He claims his pragmatic approach has resulted in San Jose becoming the nation's safest large city and has significantly reduced homelessness, POLITICO reported.

“It’s a moment for someone who’s a fighter for our values and a fixer of our problems,” Mahan said to POLITICO. “I am different from every other candidate in this race.”

The crowded field of candidates features several notable names: 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.

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"We have a lot of candidates following a tired playbook," Mahan said to POLITICO Thursday. "They're either running against Trump or they're running in his image. I'm running for the future of California."

Mahan has frequently appeared on TV, often engaging in policy disputes with Newsom.

To advance his policy agenda on housing, homelessness, and crime, Mahan recently formed the political advocacy group "Back to Basics." The organization seeks to build a statewide coalition around his platform.