Matt Mahan Must Be California’s Next Governor

California doesn’t need another politician who tweets well. It needs someone who can actually fix things. Matt Mahan just threw his hat in the ring for governor—and his track record in San Jose shows what “Back to Basics” actually looks like.

Archived tweet

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's Back to Basics: - Build housing - Treatment & recovery - Increase public safety - Better schools - Better jobs - Focus and accountability California needs someone who will deliver results and excellence. Matt Mahan must be our next governor. https://t.co/kI4YMvgR2z [Quoting @MattMahanSJ]: @Elex_Michaelson and I have been talking about the change California needs for a while now. Our big cities are where problems show up first and solutions get tested. And in San Jose, our solutions are starting to move the needle. I look forward to expanding them across California. https://t.co/g44DSopN7r

Garry Tan @garrytan January 30, 2026

Build housing. Treatment and recovery. Increase public safety. Better schools. Better jobs. Focus and accountability. That’s the six-point platform. Simple. Obvious. And apparently revolutionary for a state that’s forgotten what government is supposed to do.

The Results Speak for Themselves

While other California cities flounder with homelessness, San Jose reduced unsheltered homelessness by nearly 23%—from 5,100 in 2019 to under 4,000 in 2025. Mahan claims roughly one-third of people living outside have been brought indoors. San Jose is now ranked as the safest big city in America.

The secret? Build actual shelter capacity instead of waiting years for permanent housing that never comes. Then require people to use it when available. It’s not complicated—it just requires leadership willing to make hard decisions and hold people accountable. Mahan has done that in San Jose, and it’s saving lives.

The Best Resistance Is Results

Mahan’s core message cuts through the noise: “The best resistance is results.” Actually delivering safer neighborhoods, cleaner streets, better schools, better jobs. Not just tweeting about it.

Mahan credits Newsom for some accomplishments—Care Court, CEQA reform—but calls out the need for bolder action on addiction. This is personal for him: Mahan has family members who ended up on the streets due to severe addiction. He knows “tough love” is required. That’s why he supported Prop 36 while Newsom opposed it. Mandated treatment saves lives. Endless tolerance of addiction doesn’t.

Back to Basics: The Platform

Mahan’s campaign lays out the six-point agenda:

Build housing: Cut fees and regulations, use surplus government land, dramatically lower construction costs. The number one way to make California easier to live in is to reduce the cost of homes and rents.

Treatment & recovery: End the insane policy that bans funding for sober housing while only allowing “wet” housing where unlimited drug use is permitted. Require treatment for people who are harming themselves and others.

Public safety: Accountability and enforcement when shelter is available. Homelessness shouldn’t be a choice we accept—it should be a tragedy we end.

Better schools: Bring back the SAT, bring back the science of reading, bring back high academic standards. The problem isn’t our kids—it’s adults who won’t hold our schools to excellence.

Better jobs: Focus on middle-class job creation and economic growth.

Focus and accountability: Stop asking taxpayers for more until government spends current funds better. California is one of the highest-taxed states in the nation with billions in identified fraud and waste.

Why This Matters Now

When asked about Mahan’s announcement, Newsom’s response was “I don’t know enough about him.” That dismissive attitude echoes the out-of-touch Sacramento elite. Politico characterized Mahan as “the anti-Newsom”—a moderate Democrat who has frequently criticized Newsom’s handling of homelessness and addiction.

Here’s the reality: California’s state policy still bans funding for sober housing—only “wet” housing that allows unlimited drug use gets public funding. Recovery is possible, but most funding goes to enabling addiction rather than ending it. That remains state policy. Mahan wants to change that.

Big cities are where problems show up first and solutions get tested. San Jose’s solutions are working. Now it’s time to expand them across California.

California needs someone who will deliver results and excellence—not just tweet about resistance. Matt Mahan has proven he can move the needle on the issues that matter most. He must be our next governor.

Follow @garrytan for more.