San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced today (January 29, 2026) that he's running for Governor of California. His pitch? He 'fixed' homelessness and crime in Silicon Valley's largest city. But let's look at the full picture.
WHAT MAHAN CLAIMS
At his announcement outside a homeless shelter, Mahan touted impressive-sounding statistics:
• 23% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2019
• Doubled the sheltered population (160% increase)
• 'Safest big city in America'
• 10% drop in unsheltered population since 2023
"I'm running for Governor because we can do better. San Jose is proving it," Mahan declared.
THE NUMBERS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY
Here's what those statistics don't mention
HOMELESSNESS TIMELINE
• 2019: 6,097 homeless (+40% SPIKE from previous year!)
• 2022: 6,739 (+11% increase)
• 2023: 6,420 (-4.7%)
• 2025: 6,503 (+1.3%)
The 'reduction' Mahan celebrates is measured from 2019 - the year homelessness EXPLODED by 40%. He's essentially taking credit for returning to pre-crisis levels, not solving the underlying problem.
THE UNSHELTERED REALITY
83% of San Jose's homeless population sleeps OUTDOORS - the highest rate among major U.S. cities. Compare that to:
• Los Angeles: 81%
• Sacramento: 77%
• Oakland: 76%
San Jose is literally the worst in America for unsheltered homelessness among large cities.
CRIME: SAFE OR NOT?
Yes, San Jose ranks as the 'safest big city' by some metrics. But dig deeper:
• Vehicle theft: Among the WORST in America (90% of cities are safer)
• Property crime: 35% ABOVE national average
• Violent crime: 42.6% ABOVE national average
The 'safest' ranking comes from comparing to other large cities - not from actual low crime rates.
THE SILICON VALLEY PARADOX
San Jose exemplifies California's inequality crisis
• #1 most expensive city to live in America
• #1 in prosperity rankings
• But #46 in geographic inclusion
• And #50 in racial inclusion
In other words: great if you're wealthy, brutal if you're not.
THE CROWDED FIELD
Mahan joins a packed race for Governor
DEMOCRATS
• Xavier Becerra (former HHS Secretary)
• Katie Porter (former Congresswoman)
• Tom Steyer (billionaire environmentalist)
• Eric Swallwell (Congressman)
• Tony Thurmond (State Superintendent)
• Antonio Villaraigosa (former LA Mayor)
• Betty Yee (former State Controller)
REPUBLICANS
• Chad Bianco (Riverside County Sheriff)
• Steve Hilton (political commentator)
Mahan positions himself as a 'moderate Democrat' backed by tech billionaires including Rick Caruso and venture capitalists.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
For Polish community members in SoCal, this race matters because:
- HOUSING COSTS: Will the next Governor address California's affordability crisis?
- HOMELESSNESS: LA and Orange County face similar challenges - which approach works?
- CRIME: How will candidates balance public safety with community concerns?
- IMMIGRATION: Where do candidates stand on state-federal conflicts over enforcement?
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mahan is a skilled politician who knows how to spin statistics. His record in San Jose shows some improvements, but the 'miracle' he's selling is more complicated than his campaign suggests.
The real question: Can ANY of these candidates actually solve California's deep-rooted problems with housing, homelessness, and affordability?
The primary election is June 2, 2026. The top two candidates advance to November regardless of party.
What do you think? Should California follow the San Jose model? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Sources: San Jose Spotlight, KQED, NBC Bay Area, Santa Clara County Homeless Census, SmartAsset
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