San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, candidate for California Governor
Statewide — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan recently hosted a press conference for minority journalists organized by American Community Media, using the appearance to pitch himself as a results-driven Democrat in the crowded race for California governor. Mahan stressed affordability, immigration reform, health care access and government accountability.
Mahan, who leads California’s third-largest city, opened by highlighting San Jose’s diversity. The city has about 1 million residents, more than 40% of whom are foreign-born, and more than half speak a language other than English at home.
“I’m running for governor because I grew up in a working-class farming family, a little farm town on the Central Coast, and I know what’s at stake in this race,” Mahan said.
He said his background shaped his view of government as a tool that should deliver “better education, safer neighborhoods, more affordable housing and utilities.” Mahan said too many Californians have lost faith in public institutions because they do not see results.
“As the mayor of a big city, I am accountable every day for delivering results,” he said. “I want to bring that level of focus, transparency and accountability to Sacramento.”
On immigration, Mahan criticized both major parties, saying they have used immigrants for political purposes while failing to enact meaningful reform.
“Both parties have failed us on immigration for far too long,” he said.
Mahan said he grew up in Watsonville, a farming community where many neighbors were undocumented, and described them as among the hardest-working people he has known. He said the country needs a practical immigration system that includes border security and legal pathways.
“I really believe the answer is to create a pathway to a permanent legal status, ideally citizenship, for everyone who’s here,” he said.
Mahan also took a strong position on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying agents should be held accountable if they violate California law.
“No one’s above the law,” he said. “So yes, if you break the law, including as an ICE agent, you should be prosecuted.”
Health care was another major focus. Mahan warned that federal cuts could worsen access problems, particularly for low-income and underserved communities. He said California must reduce administrative overhead, allow broader use of telehealth, expand the role of nurses and nurse practitioners, and offer incentives for medical workers to serve in rural and underserved areas.
“Health care spending in the country has grown rapidly, and it’s been growing faster than people’s incomes,” Mahan said. “And it’s crowding out a lot of other things.”
On affordability, Mahan tied his campaign directly to the struggles of younger Californians who feel forced to leave the state.
“As the only millennial candidate in this race, I decided to jump in because I’m tired of my friends moving away, and my sisters both moved out of state,” he said.
Mahan also rejected the idea that he is the “Silicon Valley billionaire’s candidate,” saying San Jose is not Palo Alto or Menlo Park, but a working-class, diverse city where much of the region’s workforce lives. He said he supports strong regulation of technology, including AI safeguards and restrictions on social media use by minors.
But Mahan also said his time in tech was focused on public service, not private gain. Mahan has worked at several tech firms and startups, including Brigade, a social media platform for civic engagement.
“Even my time in tech was all about building civic tools to empower grassroots organizers,” he said.
Closing his remarks, Mahan said his campaign is not driven by ideology but by outcomes.
“I believe the best resistance to authoritarianism is results, is making government work for people,” he said.
