Matt Mahan, the current mayor of San Jose, is a candidate in California’s 2026 race for governor. Now seeking statewide office, Mahan spoke with California Black Media recently about his campaign, which is centered on accountability in government, improving public education outcomes, and expanding economic opportunity for working families across California.
California’s Stop the Hate program has helped track and respond to hate crimes but is scheduled to end in 2026. If elected, would you continue or expand efforts to address hate and discrimination?
I was just speaking with another outlet about an alleged hate crime in our community. Ensuring people feel safe, included, and protected by our institutions is fundamental.
When people experience discrimination or become victims of hate crimes, it undermines our ability to make anything else work—our schools, workplaces, and health care systems. Hate crimes are especially harmful because they target people based on identity and send a message of exclusion to entire communities.
We’ve seen rising incidents of hate crimes, and that’s deeply concerning. I would invest in strengthening the capacity to identify, report, and address those crimes while ensuring accountability.
We have a special category for hate crimes because they are uniquely corrosive to society. History shows what can happen when discrimination and hate are ignored—from slavery and Jim Crow to the Holocaust. That’s why we have to remain vigilant in defending values of inclusion, respect, and equal protection for everyone.