San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan Announces Bid for California Governor

Mahan outlines priorities of affordable housing, addressing homelessness, and improving public education

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:55pm

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has announced his candidacy for California governor, vowing to prioritize affordable housing, tackling the state's homelessness crisis, and renewing the focus on public education. Mahan, a Democrat, has positioned himself as a pragmatic problem-solver who can deliver results without raising taxes by cracking down on fraud and improving coordination between state, county, and local governments.

Why it matters

Mahan's entry into the crowded California governor's race shakes up the field, as the popular San Jose mayor looks to set himself apart with a campaign centered on affordability and solving the state's homelessness issues. His success or failure could have significant implications for the direction of California politics.

The details

In his campaign announcement, Mahan said he will prioritize making California more affordable by reducing regulations, utilizing government land for housing, and lowering construction costs. To address homelessness, he plans to follow the model he implemented in San Jose by providing safe and decent shelter while requiring homeless individuals to use it. Mahan also vowed to put a renewed focus on public education, despite California being one of the highest-taxed states, by clamping down on fraud and improving coordination between different levels of government.

  • Mahan announced his candidacy on February 1, 2026.
  • The California Democratic primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.

The players

Matt Mahan

The Democratic mayor of San Jose who is running for California governor, pledging to prioritize affordable housing, tackling homelessness, and improving public education.

Gavin Newsom

The current governor of California, who is set to leave office this year and is not running for re-election.

Eric Swalwell

A U.S. Representative from California who is currently leading the field of candidates for the California governor's race, according to betting markets.

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What they’re saying

“So I'm 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. That's how we fix California.”

— Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose (X)

“The No. 1 way we can make California an easier place to live is to dramatically reduce the cost of homes and rents — which is within our reach if we work smarter and hold ourselves accountable to results.”

— Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose (Matt Mahan's campaign website)

“It simply isn't humane to let so many people live and die on our streets or hurt themselves and others. The era of mass treatment needs to start now.”

— Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose (Matt Mahan's campaign website)

What’s next

The California Democratic primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026, giving Mahan just five months to make his case to voters before the crucial vote.

The takeaway

Mahan's entry into the California governor's race shakes up the field, as the popular San Jose mayor looks to position himself as a pragmatic problem-solver who can deliver results on key issues like affordable housing and homelessness without raising taxes. His success or failure could have significant implications for the direction of California politics.