Matt Mahan for Governor? California Should Be So Lucky

The transformation is real. San Jose went from a city where families fled due to rampant homelessness, open drug use, and petty crime to being ranked among the happiest and safest cities in America. And the man responsible is now considering a run for Governor.

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan told me he'll decide within the next couple of weeks if he's running for California governor. "I haven't seen any of the current candidates speak clearly and boldly," he said, on issues including crime, homelessness and cost of living. https://t.co/U77974Oatq

Ashley Zavala @ZavalaA January 13, 2026

Mahan isn’t pulling punches. He’s openly criticizing the current field of candidates for lacking boldness on the issues that actually matter: crime, homelessness, and the crushing cost of living that’s driving Californians out of the state. And unlike most politicians who just talk, Mahan has receipts.

The San Jose Miracle

The evidence of Mahan’s success isn’t just polling—it’s testimonials from people who lived through the transformation:

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My wife and I moved out of San Jose in 2020. The city was overrun by homeless, drug use in the streets, petty theft and crime. I went back recently and walked through downtown and it’s a completely different city. California would be lucky to have Matt Mahan as Governor. https://t.co/1V0AQJAOVJ

Jesse Tinsley @JesseTinsley January 13, 2026

This isn’t some isolated anecdote. Under Mahan’s leadership, San Jose has reduced unsheltered homelessness while other California cities have watched their streets deteriorate. His “Back to Basics” agenda—using technology to fill potholes faster, make communities safer, and actually address homelessness—isn’t just campaign rhetoric. It’s working.

The Courage Deficit in Sacramento

What makes Mahan different? He actually stands for something. When Governor Newsom and Democratic leadership opposed Proposition 36—the crime crackdown measure targeting repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers—Mahan was outspoken in supporting it. Voters agreed, passing it overwhelmingly.

That willingness to buck his own party’s leadership on issues where they’re clearly wrong is exactly what California needs. The state has become a case study in how bad governance drives out talent and capital. High cost of living, unchecked homelessness, energy uncertainty with oil refineries closing and Diablo Canyon’s future up in the air—these are solvable problems if you have leaders willing to actually solve them.

Mahan says he hasn’t seen any current candidate “speak clearly and boldly” on these issues. He’s right. And California would be lucky to have someone who will.

The decision comes in the next couple weeks. If you want to see what competent, results-oriented leadership looks like at the state level, you should be rooting for Mahan to run.

Follow @garrytan for more.