San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan Enters California Governor Race

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced Thursday that he is entering the race for California governor, positioning himself as a moderate Democrat focused on practical solutions to the state's challenges in public safety, homelessness and housing affordability. The 43-year-old leader of the state's third-largest city joins a crowded field of candidates vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom in the June 2 primary.

Mahan, who was elected mayor in 2022 after serving on the City Council since 2020, described his decision as driven by frustration with Sacramento's approach to key issues. In a post on X, he credited his wife, Silvia, for encouraging him, saying she believed he could help their family, San Jose and the state. "We need to stand up for our rights, for our freedoms and for our neighbors," Mahan wrote. "We need to use the tools we have at hand to protect our democracy. One tool is the law. The other tool is our results. We have to use both. That's how we fix California."

A former tech entrepreneur and Harvard graduate who grew up in the farming community of Watsonville, Mahan has built his political career on a results-oriented agenda. He highlights San Jose's progress...