Group spends $4.8 million on TV ads for Matt Mahan’s gubernatorial bid
An independent spending committee backed by Silicon Valley executives spent $4.8 million on television ads supporting San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s gubernatorial bid, which begins airing Thursday.
The two 30-second ads highlight the Democrat’s life story growing up in a working-class family, working on a field crew and working as a middle school teacher, and his accomplishments in running the state’s third-largest city.
In one of the ads, a narrator says Mahan’s parents “taught him the difference between nice-to-have and have-to-have.” “So as mayor of San Jose, Matt focused on the basics and got results on the issues that matter most: America’s safest big city, a steep decline in street homelessness, and thousands of homes being built. As governor, Matt Mahan will focus on the results Californians need to have, like affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, and good schools.”
The ads, which will run statewide on broadcast and cable TV, were paid for by an independent spending committee called California Back to Basics, Supporting 2026 Gov. Matt Mahan.
The group has not yet filed any fundraising reports with the State Department, but postings list its top donors as billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz, luxury sleepwear company founder Ashley Merrill and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Michael Seibel.
Billionaire Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso, who considered running for Los Angeles governor or mayor but ultimately abandoned both positions, is involved in the effort, according to a strategist who works for the committee and asked not to be named to talk about it.
The committee cannot legally coordinate with the campaign Mahan launched four weeks ago. Although Mahan lacks the name recognition of many other candidates in the crowded field vying to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, his fundraising prowess is notable, especially among tech industry leaders. He has raised nearly $9.2 million in major donations since entering the governor’s race.
