Episode
Mayor Matt Mahan on building a future that works for all Californians
- Published
- May 21, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1539
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Summary
Matt Mahan is the Democratic Mayor of San José and a candidate for Governor, running to get California back to basics by lowering costs, ending unsheltered homelessness, improving public safety, and expanding economic opportunity. Elected to the San José City Council in 2020 and as Mayor in 2022, Mahan has focused on accountability and outcomes. Under his leadership, San José has reduced unsheltered homelessness, expanded shelter capacity, streamlined housing development, and strengthened public safety. Re-elected in 2024 with nearly 90% of the vote, he is now running for Governor to bring a results-driven, back-to-basics approach to state government. In this conversation, we discussed what motivated Matt to run for governor, how he plans to reduce gun violence throughout the state of California, his plans to protect children from the harmful effects of social media and AI, fixing the issues in California’s educational system, the realities of being a dad and husband and running for office, and more. Connect with Matt: Website | Instagram | Facebook If you’re looking to unleash your potential, find your personal, professional, or political fire, and to connect with a community who is doing the same, click here to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe