Matt Mahan

Background

Matt Mahan grew up in Watsonville and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose on a low-income scholarship, commuting two hours each morning by bus. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 2005 with a degree in social studies, then taught seventh and eighth grade English and history in San Jose from 2006 to 2008 through Teach for America, at Joseph George Middle School in Alum Rock. He joined the civic technology company Causes as its seventh hire and rose to CEO and president. In 2014 he co-launched Brigade, a civic engagement app, with Sean Parker. In 2020 Almaden Valley voters elected him to the City Council for District 10, succeeding termed-out Councilmember Johnny Khamis.

In office

Mahan won the 2022 race for mayor over Cindy Chavez and left his council seat early. He took office on January 1, 2023, and in March 2024 won his first full term over Tyrone Wade, a retired marriage and family crisis counselor.

In his 2024-25 budget he proposed moving Measure E property transfer tax money from affordable housing construction toward short-term homeless support, saying the city faced "a very tough balancing act." Housing advocates and residents rallied against the change in May 2024. In September 2026 the city released a new count estimating about 3,700 unsheltered residents, down 32 percent over 18 months. Mahan called it a faster drop than in any other California city.

He announced a campaign for governor in January 2026. A Bay Area News Group analysis found he missed more than a third of council meetings during the race. His campaign raised the second-most money in the field. He placed sixth in the June 2 primary, with 4.1 percent in early returns, and conceded that night.

In September 2026 the Fair Political Practices Commission fined him $27,500 for late disclosure of more than $2.3 million in donations made at his or an aide's request from 2024 to 2026, most of it to the nonprofit Back to Basics California. The commission found negligence rather than intent. His former chief of staff, Jim Reed, took responsibility for the filings. In October 2026, at a joint meeting with the Valley Water board, Mahan proposed that city and Valley Water staff identify the waterway segments with the highest flood risk ahead of a possible strong El Nino winter.

On the ballot

Mahan is not a candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot. After conceding the governor's race in June he remained mayor. His term ends in December 2028, and the office is next on the ballot in the March 7, 2028 primary. San José Spotlight reported that he can seek a second four-year term.