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San Jose Mayor Attacks Billionaire Gubernatorial Rival
Mahan accuses Steyer of thinking voters are 'stupid' in escalating Democratic primary fight.
Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:35am
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The bitter Democratic primary fight between a San Jose mayor and a billionaire outsider exposes divisions within the party.San Jose TodaySan Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democratic candidate for California governor, has escalated his attacks on fellow Democrat and billionaire Tom Steyer. Mahan accused Steyer of thinking voters are 'stupid' as the two engage in a heated primary battle.
Why it matters
The growing rift between Mahan and Steyer highlights the ideological divides within the California Democratic party, with Mahan positioning himself as a more progressive, anti-establishment candidate against Steyer's wealthy, centrist background.
The details
In his latest comments, Mahan accused Steyer of believing 'you're stupid' and trying to 'buy' the governorship with his personal fortune. The two Democrats are competing in a crowded primary race to succeed the termed-out Governor Gavin Newsom.
- Mahan escalated his attacks on Steyer on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
The players
Matt Mahan
The Democratic mayor of San Jose who is running for California governor.
Tom Steyer
A billionaire former hedge fund manager who is also running as a Democrat for California governor.
What they’re saying
“He thinks you're stupid. He thinks he can just buy this election.”
— Matt Mahan, San Jose Mayor
What’s next
The California Democratic primary election is scheduled for June 2026, with the general election to follow in November.
The takeaway
The escalating feud between Mahan and Steyer reflects the broader tensions within the California Democratic party, as more progressive candidates challenge the influence of wealthy, establishment-backed figures.
