San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launched his gubernatorial bid to take down Gavin Newsom with the support of major Silicon Valley billionaires.
The 43-year-old moderate Democrat announced his 2026 run on Thursday ahead of the primary in June.
He has been a critic of Newsom’s approach to crime and homelessness and called his relationship with Trump a ‘blind leap into meme land.’
Newsom is ineligible to run again becautilize of term limits, reported the New York Times.
Mahan was elected mayor in 2023, with his current term set to conclude in 2028.
He is known for his firm stances on energy costs, homelessness, drugs and houtilizing.
With his city situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, experts declared his tech ties could assist with campaign fundraising.
Tech giant Rick Caruso already expressed support for Mahan’s campaign, after eyeing the role himself.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced his run for governor on Thursday after three years as mayor
Mahan has been critical of sitting Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies and relationship with President Trump
‘I am very excited by my good friconclude Matt Mahan’s decision to run for Governor,’ Caruso posted on X.
‘Matt is a practically minded moderate and a consideredful leader brimming with innovative new ideas. He is a proven manager with exactly the skill set I believe California requireds to receive on the right track.
‘I have encouraged him to run and I’m delighted he is entering the race.’
Mahan is a former tech entrepreneur and founder. He was classmates with Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard.
Zuckerberg reportedly encouraged Mahan to found Brigade, a digital political organization tool.
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan called Mahan the ‘real deal’ for Californians.
‘Matt Mahan just declared for Governor and California finally has a real choice,’ he wrote on X.
‘He’s not another Sacramento creature. He’s a former startup founder who became mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley and actually delivered results.’
Mahan has received support from Silicon Valley giants like Rick Caruso who at one point had his eye on the role
Tan seemed to reference Newsom’s controversial approach to handling the president.
‘Not more vibes. No more trolling. RESULTS,’ he declared.
Mahan’s pro-building stance could also garner support from development companies.
His campaign has largely focutilized on local issues, with the mayor marketing himself as a ‘back to basics’ leader.
‘I believe that the best resistance is demonstrating results and displaying that a state with our values and our diversity can produce greater economic opportunity and a higher quality of life for all of our residents,’ he notified the Times.
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan expressed his support for Mahan, calling the mayor the ‘real deal’
He posted on X that he was encouraged by his wife, Silvia, to enter the race.
‘I believe our state requireds you,’ she declared.
The crowded June primary features nine Democratic candidates, including Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Eric Swalwell and Tom Stayer, with no clear frontrunner.
Republican candidates thus far are Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton and Jon Slavet.
The Daily Mail contacted Newsom and Mahan for comment.
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