The popular Democratic mayor of San Jose said he’ll prioritize housing, health and tackling the homeless crisis if he’s elected to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Mayor Matt Mahan, who has not been shy to call out Newsom, claims to have the formula to “fix” California as he tries to set himself apart in a crowded crop of candidates looking to replace the incumbent who is set to leave office this year.
In a crowded California governor’s race, Mahan looks to set himself apart with a campaign centered around affordability and solving the state’s homelessness crisis.
“So I’m running to bring focus back to government,” Manhan said in an X statement on X Thursday, saying his campaign will center on affordability.
“To give cities the tools they need to succeed. To show that the best resistance to division is results,” he added. “That’s how we fix California.”
Mahan, who got his start in politics in 2020 as a City Council member, vowed to make California affordable again by reducing regulations, using government land to build and lowering construction costs.
“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,” Mahan said on his newly launched campaign website.
To address the state’s homeless population, Mahan said he plans to do what he’s done in San Jose, by “building safe and decent shelter and then requiring that our homeless neighbors use it when available.”
The 43-year-old, who is now serving his second term as mayor, said he will also require people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others to go on a treatment plan for drug, alcohol or mental health conditions.
“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,” reads Mahan’s campaign website.
The former middle school teacher also vowed to put a renewed focus on public education.
California is one of the highest-taxed states in the country, but Mahan said he can accomplish his ambitious agenda without raising taxes by clamping down on fraud and requiring state, county, and local governments to better work together.
“His overriding value is to put pragmatic and successful policies first so we can build a better California together,” Mahan said on his campaign website.
With just five months to make his case until a June 2 Democratic Party primary, the tough-on-crime Democrat appears to have already caused a stir among the long-list of candidates running for California’s top job. After a surprise announcement, he surged on betting markets — netting 36% on Polymarket, just one spot behind Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is led the field with 45%.