Black Action Alliance Confirms San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan as Participant in February 3 Statewide Gubernatorial Debate

BAA Contributor
2 days ago
2 min read

The Black Action Alliance (BAA) today announced that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has officially qualified and will participate in the February 3, 2026 Statewide California Gubernatorial Debate, hosted in partnership with KTVU FOX 2 Bay Area, KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles, and FOX Local.

Mayor Mahan’s inclusion follows his formal entry into the gubernatorial race and confirmation that his campaign meets all previously published debate qualification criteria. BAA had been aware that Mayor Mahan was actively considering a statewide run prior to the candidate acceptance deadline, and his participation reflects the integrity and flexibility of a process designed to accommodate late-breaking but legitimate candidacies.

“This is not a deviation from our process. It is the process working exactly as intended,” said Loren Taylor, Interim CEO of the Black Action Alliance. “Our goal has always been to ensure that voters hear from every serious, qualified candidate who is prepared to govern California and willing to engage transparently with the public.”

Updated Confirmed Candidates

Antonio Villaraigos, Former Mayor of Los Angeles
Betty Yee, Former State Treasurer
Eric Swalwell, US Congressman
Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose
Steve Hilton, Entrepreneur and Media Personality
Tom Steyer, Businessman
Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The February 3 debate will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PST at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House in San Francisco and will be broadcast live across Northern and Southern California (KTVU FOX2 Bay Area and KTTV FOX11 Los Angeles), with statewide streaming available on FOX Local.

The debate is designed to move beyond surface-level politics and focus on governing readiness, with particular attention to equity, economic power, workforce transformation, and accountability in an era of rapid technological and social change. All participating candidates are subject to the same debate requirements, including completion of a comprehensive candidate questionnaire for public release.