Sacramento, California– One tech investor called him “the only sane” Democrat in the race Governor of California. Others have shelled out millions to boost his campaign, even paying for a Super Bowl ad to deliver to voters. It is against the proposal Billionaire tax The state’s wealthiest residents are threatened with mass migration.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan He is Tech’s favorite to be California’s next leader.
The 43-year-old former tech executive jumped in Crowded race Last January, he described himself as a practical problem solver. Mahan, a moderate Democrat, has built his statewide image mainly by criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature’s response to homelessness and crime. His centrist message has appealed to tech leaders who want a business-friendly governor to succeed Newsom, a longtime tech ally whose term has expired.
In just three months, Mahan has raised more than any of his rivals, many of whom have been running for more than a year. ( Billionaire Tom Steyer He is largely self-funding his campaign.)
During Tuesday Nightly debate on CNNHe criticized his rivals as career politicians while portraying himself as a candidate with practical solutions to the state’s challenges.
“We don’t need MAGA values, but we also don’t need more of the same,” Mahan said, referring to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement that is backed by Republican challengers Chad Bianco and presidential candidate Chad Bianco. Steve Hiltonwhich Trump supported.
But Mahan has yet to gain the momentum or widespread exposure he expected to overcome his rivals, and he is running out of time to win over voters before the June 2 primary. His ties to technology are of particular concern to labor unions and a segment of Democratic voters who wonder whether he will stand up to the industry.
“People don’t want someone who is a puppet of these big tech billionaires, AI billionaires — and that’s the way it’s always been,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Federation of Labor, which endorsed Steyer, the former U.S. Rep. Katie porter And former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mahan said he is the only candidate with experience in the giant industry, pointing to a coalition he created in San Jose where more than 900 public agencies are working together to explore responsible ways to apply artificial intelligence in government. In Tuesday’s debate, he said he supports taxing AI companies to fund workforce development.
“Voters can see past that kind of shallow connection, because I’m the mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley, and that might mean I’m not willing to regulate technology,” Mahan told the Associated Press. “It was actually quite the opposite.”
Observers point out that California is known as a leader in policies aimed at promoting and reining in the domestic technology industry.
“If they can ensure they get a governor in California who is weak on tech accountability, that could save them a lot of money across the states,” JB Branch of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer advocacy group, said of Silicon Valley leaders backing Mahan.
Through politics, the technology industry is flexing its political power amid public skepticism about it Social media and artificial intelligence rises. Independent groups backed by tech companies and billionaires have already committed at least $40 million to influence California legislative races.
Political committees supporting Mahan have raised more than $25 million, including donations from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, venture capitalist Michael Moritz, and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.
Some donors, like Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, are hedging their bets — they’ve also given to Hilton, the former Fox News anchor.
Mahan “is focused on actually solving problems — building more housing, improving public safety, and enabling people to live and work here again,” Gary Tan, who leads a startup accelerator that has helped launch companies like Airbnb and DoorDash, said through a Mahan spokesman.
Mahan, who graduated from Harvard, was a classmate of Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, he said I convinced him to go into technology Instead of law school.
Mahan was part of the team that created an early Facebook app called “Cause” that allowed users to promote nonprofit organizations. He then co-founded Brigade, a nonpartisan online voter network.
But that’s not at the heart of Mahan’s campaign. He focused instead on his upbringing as the son of a postal worker and a school teacher. He is the only major Democrat who wants to suspend the state’s gas tax.
He defeated a Labor-backed candidate for mayor in 2022 after serving two years on the city council. As mayor, he convinced council members to direct more city funds toward short-term housing to get homeless people off the streets and make them eligible for temporary housing. arrest To refuse shelters. Both efforts have faced fierce opposition, but San Jose last year saw a decline in the number of people unable to reach shelters, according to county data.
He beat Newsom in 2024 with support Conduct a tough-on-crime ballot. Mahan has since softened his criticism, saying the governor has focused on the right issues.
Mahan has pledged not to raise taxes to fix budget holes, including a one-time tax on billionaires, which most of his rivals also oppose. He wants to incentivize elected and appointed state officials by tying future wage increases to improvements in issues like unemployment and homelessness rates.
“Raising taxes isn’t always the answer, Tom,” he said pointedly Tuesday when Steyer rolled out a plan to make businesses pay more property taxes.
Mahan has raised more than $13 million in 11 weeks, allowing him to launch TV ads to reach voters in some of the country’s most expensive markets. Two independent spending groups spent more than $18 million to support him.
As of last month, only about 730 donations had been made to Mahan’s campaign of less than $250, indicating limited public support. In contrast, nearly all of Porter’s 46,000 donations were less than that amount, as were about 5,600 of them to former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
However, voter support for other Democratic candidates is “very weak,” Mahan said of his chances. “Even if people are inclined a certain way, they can still be persuaded.”
The tech moguls’ support for Mahan’s nomination and his plans to organize were among the most popular topics during a recent “Ask Me Anything” session Mahan hosted on Reddit, where people can ask questions anonymously.
Several people asked when and where Mahan would withdraw from office to prevent a disastrous scenario for Democrats Two Republicans could come forward To the November elections. Someone asked which Democrat he would support after he dropped out of the race.
“I plan to win!” He replied.