Q&A With Matt Mahan: Gubernatorial Candidate Has Clear Goals for Childhood Literacy; Improving the Lives of Working Families

March 18, 2026

Matt Mahan, San Jose's current mayor who grew up in working-class Watsonville with a teacher mother and letter carrier father, is running for California governor in 2026. His campaign focuses on government accountability, improving educational outcomes, and expanding economic opportunities for working families, driven by concerns about both authoritarian trends at the federal level and insufficient state-level results despite increased funding. His proposed solutions include establishing measurable public goals, streamlining housing development through 30-day permit requirements and reduced fees, implementing evidence-based literacy instruction to close racial achievement gaps, and strengthening responses to hate crimes.

Who is affected

Working-class families across California
African American and other minority communities
Students in lower-income communities of color, particularly those struggling with literacy
California residents facing high housing costs
Victims and potential victims of hate crimes
Teachers and education professionals
Young children in the public school system

What action is being taken

Mahan is running as a candidate in California's 2026 gubernatorial race
California Black Media is conducting a Q&A series with gubernatorial candidates
Mahan is campaigning on platforms centered on accountability, education, and economic opportunity

Why it matters

This matters because California faces critical challenges in housing affordability, educational equity, and safety for minority communities. The disparities in education and housing disproportionately affect working-class and minority families, limiting their access to opportunities that were previously more available. When large numbers of children are denied educational opportunities, it creates long-term societal costs including homelessness, crime, and incarceration. Hate crimes are particularly corrosive to society because they target people based on identity and send messages of exclusion to entire communities, undermining the functioning of schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems. The outcome of the 2026 gubernatorial race will determine whether California pursues reforms in these critical areas.

What's next

California's 2026 gubernatorial election will take place
The Stop the Hate program is scheduled to end in 2026, requiring a decision on continuation
If elected, Mahan would set clear priorities and measurable public goals with transparency mechanisms for tracking progress
He would implement 30-day permit requirements for local governments and caps on impact fees
He would establish clear goals for literacy achievement and closing racial gaps in reading proficiency

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint