San Jose mayor, a frequent Newsom critic, jumps into the California governor's race

Mahan joins a large and unsettled field of contenders hoping to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Months ahead of the June primary, no Democrat has emerged as a clear frontrunner. The race includes former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. House member Katie Porter, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, among others. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton have also announced their bids.

Mahan has emerged as a frequent critic of Newsom. He lambasted Newsom over his handling of homelessness and bucked him in 2024 by backing a tough-on-crime ballot measure to increase penalties for some shoplifting and drug offenses. Mahan also criticized Newsom's focus on President Donald Trump and the governor's social media trolling in an op-ed last year.

Mahan vowed to be a fighter for California values and “a fixer” who could deliver results.

“As mayor of a big city, I’m closer to the challenges we face and the solutions we need than anyone else in this race,” Mahan said in a phone interview Thursday. “Cities are on the front lines of solving problems for people in their everyday lives.”

Newsom, who's seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, is termed out after this year and cannot run for reelection. Other Democratic heavyweights, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney General Rob Bonta, decided not to run.

Asked about Mahan's candidacy at an event in San Francisco, Newsom said he doesn't know the mayor well, adding, “I wish him good luck."

Mahan, a 43-year-old Harvard graduate, has deep ties with the tech industry. He was a tech entrepreneur before he ran for public offices, co-founding a digital political organizing platform called Brigade. He was classmates with Mark Zuckerberg, who Mahan said persuaded him to go into tech instead of law school. Some tech and business leaders, including billionaire Rick Caruso, venture capitalist Garry Tan and angel investor Matt Brezina, already signaled they would support Mahan's bid.

Mahan in recent months also hosted a number of gubernatorial candidates in San Jose, but said no one has impressed him. Mahan was first elected as a city councilmember in 2020 before he won the mayoral election in 2022 against a labor-backed candidate.

He often joins weekend clean-up efforts along San Jose waterways and city parks. Last year, over opposition from county officials, he successfully pushed a provision to make homeless people eligible for arrest if they reject three offers of shelters.