SJ Mayor Mahan gaining support, criticism early during CA gubernatorial campaign

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Two California Assemblymembers who represent and call San Jose home are calling out Mayor Matt Mahan over his next political plans.

In a crowded race to be the next Governor of California, Mahan is making a lot of noise very quickly.

His campaign reports in just one week, tech billionaires have helped him raise more than $7 million and pay for a Super Bowl ad.

Political experts say that makes him a candidate to watch out for.

San Jose leaders like Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Alex Lee agree, but not in a good way.

MORE: Matt Mahan's race for CA governor largely backed by Silicon Valley tech moguls, billionaires: report

"These millionaire tech elitists don't just want someone in the governor's mansion who is friendly to them," Kalra said. "They want someone who's going to be OBD to them. And that should scare everyone."

Kalra and Lee announced their endorsement for Tom Steyer and spoke out against Mahan's approach to major issues - like homelessness, affordability and city finances.

They are problems the Assemblymembers say Mahan believes he is solving, however they see it differently.

"It doesn't really strike me as getting back to basics by trying to pursue a political stunt of running for the governor's mansion when he hasn't really fixed San Jose whatsoever," Lee said.

Mahan was in Los Angeles Friday visiting "Skid Row" and promoting homelessness solutions like those we've seen in San Jose.

MORE: South Bay community offers mixed reactions to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's gubernatorial plans

He responded to the Assemblymembers' claims.

"People who have been the greatest offenders of the status quo in California politics are trying to blame me for our conditions," Mahan said. "The progress we've made in San Jose has been largely because a group of us took on the establishment that those elected represent and changed our policies."

SJSU Political Science Professor and Expert Melinda Jackson says that despite criticism from both sides of the political landscape, Mahan's "centrist" ideals still gives him a chance in this race.

"Democrats far outnumber Republicans here in California, but there's a sizable number, about a third of the electorate, that is no party preference or kind of undecided," Jackson said. "So, those are the folks who really might make a difference in this election."

Jackson says this is just the start of what will be an exciting race for the two runoff positions and, ultimately, the Governor of California.

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