Matt Mahan
Mayor of San Jose and candidate for governor of California
Matt Mahan (Mayor of San Jose and candidate for governor of California) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Artificial intelligence regulation, California billionaire tax proposal, 2026 California gubernatorial election.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Artificial intelligence regulation
Mahan says his tech-industry donations have never led him to favor Silicon Valley employers over San Jose residents.
“I have never done one thing to benefit the biggest employers in Silicon Valley over the people of San Jose”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:28:56
Mahan argues new data centers should pay the full cost of their infrastructure and energy and use clean energy and recycled water.
“any new data center needs to pay the full cost of the infrastructure they require, the full cost of energy”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:06
California billionaire tax proposal
Mahan argues an inheritance tax that ends the stepped-up cost basis is a better way to tax wealth.
“The best wealth tax is a one-time inheritance tax when you pass things on”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:57
Mahan opposes the proposed billionaire wealth tax, arguing it would drive out capital and ultimately hurt the middle class.
“when it comes to this wealth tax, the concern I have is it's going to punish the middle class in California”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:19:41
2026 California gubernatorial election
Mahan blames special-interest capture, such as construction defect litigation, for California building few condos.
“So the city of Miami builds more condos every year than the entire state of California”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:12:54
Mahan argues he is the only Democrat in the race with a record of challenging his party's establishment to deliver results.
“I'm the only Democrat in the race who has a track record of challenging the establishment within my own party to make our government deliver for people”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:08:18
California Proposition 13
Mahan proposes letting older residents keep their Prop 13 tax benefit when they downsize, to free up housing.
“we should enable older residents to take their property tax benefit with them if they downsize so that we can free up that housing stock”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:38:55
Nonpartisan blanket primary
- Came true
Mahan predicts two Republicans will not advance from California's June gubernatorial primary.
“It is almost statistically impossible for two Republicans to get through”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:16:19
Gas prices and inflation
Mahan argues California's gas tax is regressive and should be converted into a flat fee that EV owners also pay.
“I've argued that the gas tax in California has become the most regressive tax that affects people living in the kinds of communities I grew up in”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:09:59
Predictions
1 came true
- Came true
Mahan predicts two Republicans will not advance from California's June gubernatorial primary.
“It is almost statistically impossible for two Republicans to get through”
Pod Save America: Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican Revolt (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:16:19 · Nonpartisan blanket primary
In California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton finished in the top two, as called by the AP and projected by Decision Desk HQ. Two Republicans therefore did not both advance, as Mahan predicted. Democrat Tom Steyer finished just behind them, and Republican Chad Bianco did not make the top two.
Sources: Becerra and Hilton Advance in California Governor Race · Xavier Becerra, Donald Trump-backed Steve Hilton set for California governor showdown · Election update: Republican Steve Hilton to face Becerra in November · Becerra Advances in California Governor Race as Hilton, Steyer Battle for Second Spot
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Appearances
Trump's Revenge Leads to Republican RevoltPod Save America · May 22, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss Republican resistance to Trump's priorities and the DNC's 2024 autopsy, and Tommy Vietor interviews California gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan.
Discussed in
Blue Wave Building in the Strait of HormuzPod Save America · Mar 27, 2026 · 1 h 4 min
Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss Trump's Iran war, record-low approval ratings, Florida special election wins, the TSA pay crisis, and California's chaotic governor primary.
Often appears with
- Jon Favreau · 1 shared episode
- Dan Pfeiffer · 1 shared episode
- Tommy Vietor · 1 shared episode