San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and political moderate, is running to become California's next governor

""I'm jumping in this race because we need a governor who is both a fighter for our values and a fixer of our problems," said Mahan, one of the state's most outspoken Democratic critics of departing Gov. Gavin Newsom. "We can fix the biggest problems facing California, and I believe that because we're making real progress on homelessness, public safety [and] housing supply in San José.""

""Mahan claimed policies under his watch have reduced crime and the number of unsheltered residents, helped police solve every city homicide for nearly the last four years, and should be emulated statewide. "I want to follow through on that work by holding state government accountable for partnering with cities and counties to deliver better outcomes," he said.""

""I have not heard the field embrace the kinds of solutions that I don't think we need, I know we need, as the mayor of the largest city in Northern California," Mahan said. In "the current field, it feels like many people are more interested in running either against Trump or in his image. I'm running for the future of California, and I believe that we can fight""

San José Mayor Matt Mahan launched a campaign for California governor positioning himself as a pragmatic Democrat prioritizing residents' quality of life over entrenched progressive policies. He credits local policies with reducing crime, lowering the number of unsheltered residents, and improving homicide clearance rates. He pledges to hold state government accountable for partnering with cities and counties to deliver better outcomes on homelessness, public safety, and housing supply. He reversed an earlier decision not to run after failing to find a Democratic candidate he could support and criticized the current field for focusing on national battles rather than state solutions.

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