Matt Mahan sets himself apart from crowded California field by criticizing Newsom
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is one of the first Democrats in California‘s crowded governor’s race to voice what others have only been hinting at: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) got it wrong.
With the primary election less than four months away, a packed field of Democratic contenders has mostly tiptoed around Newsom, offering tepid policy contrasts on homelessness, crime, and the cost of living without naming names. However, Mahan broke that truce, betting that direct jabs, not subtle criticism, are what frustrated voters want to hear.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, right, discusses Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA), left, proposal to build 1,200 small homes across the state to reduce homelessness, during the first of a four-day tour of the state in Sacramento, California, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The 43-year-old Silicon Valley Democrat lacks a lengthy political resume but has built a record of publicly criticizing Newsom’s handling of crime, housing, fraud, and public safety. He has stood his ground against Newsom on the homelessness crisis, advocated tough-on-crime measures that have angered members of his party, and instituted what is believed to be one of the first performance models tying pay raises for senior staff and council members to measurable results.
Mahan launched his campaign for the 2026 California governor’s race on Thursday, joining a primary contest that has yet to produce a front-runner to lead the country’s most populous state.
However, that could soon change.
With the field effectively locked and no credible late entrants expected, the winnowing process is about to begin, political experts told the Washington Examiner.
Polls will tighten, donor money will coalesce, and candidates stuck near the bottom will drift into irrelevance. Most will remain on the ballot through June’s jungle primary, but without money or media attention. California primaries send the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to the Nov. 2 general election. Currently, about a half dozen Democrats and two Republicans have at least an outside shot at claiming one of the two spots in the runoff.
While Republicans have no problem calling out the term-limited governor eyeing a 2028 presidential run, Democrats have been slow to do so. Mahan is one of the only candidates who has come out swinging against Newsom.
Mahan framed his campaign as a contrast to Sacramento’s status quo and said leadership needs to produce “serious solutions” to …
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is one of the first Democrats in California‘s crowded governor’s race to voice what others have only been hinting at: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) got it wrong.
With the primary election less than four months away, a packed field of Democratic contenders has mostly tiptoed around Newsom, offering tepid policy contrasts on homelessness, crime, and the cost of living without naming names. However, Mahan broke that truce, betting that direct jabs, not subtle criticism, are what frustrated voters want to hear.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, right, discusses Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA), left, proposal to build 1,200 small homes across the state to reduce homelessness, during the first of a four-day tour of the state in Sacramento, California, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The 43-year-old Silicon Valley Democrat lacks a lengthy political resume but has built a record of publicly criticizing Newsom’s handling of crime, housing, fraud, and public safety. He has stood his ground against Newsom on the homelessness crisis, advocated tough-on-crime measures that have angered members of his party, and instituted what is believed to be one of the first performance models tying pay raises for senior staff and council members to measurable results.
Mahan launched his campaign for the 2026 California governor’s race on Thursday, joining a primary contest that has yet to produce a front-runner to lead the country’s most populous state.
However, that could soon change.
With the field effectively locked and no credible late entrants expected, the winnowing process is about to begin, political experts told the Washington Examiner.
Polls will tighten, donor money will coalesce, and candidates stuck near the bottom will drift into irrelevance. Most will remain on the ballot through June’s jungle primary, but without money or media attention. California primaries send the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to the Nov. 2 general election. Currently, about a half dozen Democrats and two Republicans have at least an outside shot at claiming one of the two spots in the runoff.
While Republicans have no problem calling out the term-limited governor eyeing a 2028 presidential run, Democrats have been slow to do so. Mahan is one of the only candidates who has come out swinging against Newsom.
Mahan framed his campaign as a contrast to Sacramento’s status quo and said leadership needs to produce “serious solutions” to …
Matt Mahan sets himself apart from crowded California field by criticizing Newsom
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is one of the first Democrats in California‘s crowded governor’s race to voice what others have only been hinting at: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) got it wrong.
With the primary election less than four months away, a packed field of Democratic contenders has mostly tiptoed around Newsom, offering tepid policy contrasts on homelessness, crime, and the cost of living without naming names. However, Mahan broke that truce, betting that direct jabs, not subtle criticism, are what frustrated voters want to hear.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, right, discusses Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA), left, proposal to build 1,200 small homes across the state to reduce homelessness, during the first of a four-day tour of the state in Sacramento, California, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The 43-year-old Silicon Valley Democrat lacks a lengthy political resume but has built a record of publicly criticizing Newsom’s handling of crime, housing, fraud, and public safety. He has stood his ground against Newsom on the homelessness crisis, advocated tough-on-crime measures that have angered members of his party, and instituted what is believed to be one of the first performance models tying pay raises for senior staff and council members to measurable results.
Mahan launched his campaign for the 2026 California governor’s race on Thursday, joining a primary contest that has yet to produce a front-runner to lead the country’s most populous state.
However, that could soon change.
With the field effectively locked and no credible late entrants expected, the winnowing process is about to begin, political experts told the Washington Examiner.
Polls will tighten, donor money will coalesce, and candidates stuck near the bottom will drift into irrelevance. Most will remain on the ballot through June’s jungle primary, but without money or media attention. California primaries send the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to the Nov. 2 general election. Currently, about a half dozen Democrats and two Republicans have at least an outside shot at claiming one of the two spots in the runoff.
While Republicans have no problem calling out the term-limited governor eyeing a 2028 presidential run, Democrats have been slow to do so. Mahan is one of the only candidates who has come out swinging against Newsom.
Mahan framed his campaign as a contrast to Sacramento’s status quo and said leadership needs to produce “serious solutions” to …
0 Comments
0 Shares
32 Views
0 Reviews
