San Jose Mayor Criticizes Tom Steyer’s Gubernatorial Bid
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan intensified his criticism of fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer, accusing the billionaire and former hedge fund manager of attempting to leverage his wealth to secure the California governorship. This comes despite Mahan’s previous statements that seem to contradict Steyer’s current political stance.
During an episode of the “Really American” podcast, host Steve Harness questioned Mahan about Steyer’s portrayal as a progressive. Mahan responded, suggesting that Steyer believes voters are easily fooled. He pointed out that Steyer had spent around $120 million in his attempt to win the governor’s office after previously failing to secure the presidency, totaling a staggering $200 million in political endeavors. Mahan remarked on Steyer’s past, noting his wealth derived from investments in private prisons and fossil fuel industries, accusing him of now trying to distance himself from those investments.
Mahan emphasized that Californians deserve a governor who aligns actions with rhetoric, referring to himself as that candidate.
Recent polling shows Republican Steve Hilton leading with 19%, while Steyer trails at 13%. Democrats Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter both garnered 11%, with Swalwell having recently exited the gubernatorial race following allegations against him. Mahan currently holds a mere 3% approval rating, leaving 17% of voters undecided.
Steyer, who previously invested over $252 million in his unsuccessful 2020 presidential run, is prioritizing issues like affordability in California, aiming to tackle the state’s cost of living and housing challenges. He characterized himself as someone willing to disrupt the status quo in Sacramento, pushing back against corporate influence.
Mahan’s remarks coincided with Steyer’s announcement of an immigration platform, which includes abolishing ICE operations in California and initiating legal action against ICE officials. Steyer argued that California should take decisive action to aid individuals detained by ICE and vowed to address these issues if elected.
In a recent interview, Mahan discussed California’s high gas prices, attributing them to both global factors and state policies, such as taxes and regulatory measures. He advocated for reducing the highest gas tax in the nation to provide more immediate relief for residents. Mahan also critiqued Gov. Gavin Newsom’s performance, estimating his grade as “probably” in the “C range,” and emphasized the need for change in addressing pressing issues like housing and public safety.
