{"url":"https://www.thefp.com/p/matt-mahan-is-a-normie-democrat-could?taid=69dd6b174d2286000129f5db","title":"Matt Mahan, normie Democrat, eyes California governor spot","domain":"thefp.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/15949260/pexels-photo-15949260.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"San Jose mayor","category":"Politics","language":"en","slug":"08a03669","id":"08a03669-fb4d-4434-8367-920d5a980c58","description":"Peter Savodnik profiles San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan as a moderate \"normie Democrat\" in the 2026 California governor race after Eric Swalwell suspended his ca","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Peter Savodnik profiles San Jose Mayor **Matt Mahan** as a moderate \"normie Democrat\" in the 2026 California governor race after **Eric Swalwell** suspended his campaign.\n- San Jose under Mahan became the safest large U.S. city, with sharp drops in crime and unsheltered homelessness.\n- Mahan pitches practical fixes for the fading California Dream, backed by Silicon Valley donors but low in polls.\n\n## The story at a glance\nPeter Savodnik interviews San Jose Mayor **Matt Mahan**, a lesser-known Democrat running for California governor to replace Gavin Newsom in 2026. The piece comes right after Rep. **Eric Swalwell**, a top Democrat, dropped out amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations reported by the *San Francisco Chronicle* and CNN, which he called \"absolutely false.\"[[1]](https://www.thefp.com/p/matt-mahan-is-a-normie-democrat-could?taid=69dd6b174d2286000129f5db)[[2]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74vwdpj7kdo) A Democratic strategist dubs Mahan the \"normie candidate\" for his focus on results over flash.[[3]](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-medical-establishment-is-tearing-414)\n\n## Key points\n- Swalwell faced accusations from several women of sexual assault or harassment, including rape; he denied them, apologized for past judgment errors, and suspended his bid as staff quit and Democrats pulled support.[[4]](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/eric-swalwell-drops-bid-california-governor-sexual-misconduct-allegati-rcna277009)[[5]](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/politics/eric-swalwell-ends-campaign-california-governor)\n- Mahan, San Jose mayor since 2022, led his city to rank as the U.S.'s safest large city per SmartAsset, with low violent and property crime rates plus a perfect homicide clearance rate.[[6]](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-jose-safest-large-city/3944670)\n- In San Jose, Mahan cut unsheltered homelessness by nearly a third and broke ground on thousands of affordable homes.\n- He calls other Democrats the \"same old, same old\" and aims to revive the **California Dream** through housing, crime reduction, and accountability.\n- Silicon Valley billionaires like Sergey Brin, Reed Hastings, Rick Caruso, and Michael Moritz have poured millions into Mahan's campaign and super PACs, especially post-Swalwell.[[7]](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/04/14/billionaires-are-now-backing-matt-mahan-for-california-governor-after-swalwells-exit)\n- Mahan polls low at 3-5%, behind Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco plus Democrats like Tom Steyer and Katie Porter in recent surveys.[[8]](https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/03/governor-race-candidates-voters-california)\n\n## Details and context\nThe race is wide open ahead of the June 2026 top-two primary, with 10+ candidates. Republicans like ex-Fox host **Steve Hilton** and Riverside Sheriff **Chad Bianco** lead some polls due to Democratic vote-splitting, raising party fears of a GOP finalist.[[9]](https://www.dailynews.com/2026/03/24/in-the-california-governors-race-two-republicans-land-at-top-of-the-state-democratic-partys-poll) Other Democrats include billionaire **Tom Steyer**, ex-Rep. **Katie Porter**, ex-LA Mayor **Antonio Villaraigosa**, and ex-AG **Xavier Becerra**.\n\nMahan emphasizes local wins: San Jose used state funds like HHAP for over 1,000 shelter beds and focused on shelter-first policies with enforcement. His statewide plan targets housing barriers like zoning and lawsuits to cut costs and homelessness.\n\nSwalwell's exit creates opportunity, but Mahan lacks name recognition despite tech cash; his super PAC ran a Super Bowl ad, yet polls show him stuck in single digits.\n\n## Key quotes\n> \"I am suspending my campaign for Governor... I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.\" – **Rep. Eric Swalwell** on X.[[4]](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/eric-swalwell-drops-bid-california-governor-sexual-misconduct-allegati-rcna277009)\n\n## Why it matters\nDemocrats risk a top-two primary upset where Republicans advance, given the split field and voter frustration over costs, crime, and homelessness.  \nFor California voters, Mahan offers a test of whether proven local results from a business-friendly moderate can scale statewide amid billionaire backing.  \nWatch post-Swalwell polls and fundraising; primary voting starts soon, but low turnout and undecideds (20-25%) could shift fast.[[10]](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-hilton-swalwell-bianco-lead-nonpartisan-primary-for-governor)","hashtags":["#california","#politics","#governor","#race","#siliconvalley","#homelessness"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.thefp.com/p/matt-mahan-is-a-normie-democrat-could?taid=69dd6b174d2286000129f5db","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74vwdpj7kdo","title":""},{"url":"https://www.thefp.com/p/the-medical-establishment-is-tearing-414","title":""},{"url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/eric-swalwell-drops-bid-california-governor-sexual-misconduct-allegati-rcna277009","title":""},{"url":"https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/politics/eric-swalwell-ends-campaign-california-governor","title":""},{"url":"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-jose-safest-large-city/3944670","title":""},{"url":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/04/14/billionaires-are-now-backing-matt-mahan-for-california-governor-after-swalwells-exit","title":""},{"url":"https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/03/governor-race-candidates-voters-california","title":""},{"url":"https://www.dailynews.com/2026/03/24/in-the-california-governors-race-two-republicans-land-at-top-of-the-state-democratic-partys-poll","title":""},{"url":"https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-hilton-swalwell-bianco-lead-nonpartisan-primary-for-governor","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-15T04:04:56.445Z","createdAt":"2026-04-15T04:04:56.445Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-13T22:05:47.000Z"}