"While cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles - even the suburban expanse of Orange County - have launched public servants into the Horseshoe in Sacramento, Northern California's largest city has long struggled to see one of its own take the office. That's an eyebrow-raising record considering the economic and political clout San Jose amassed as Silicon Valley's capital. Moreover, Grasty's announcement comes after Mayor Matt Mahan built considerable governor hype - crafting statewide name recognition through policy pushes and Newsom naysaying -"
"Neither Grasty nor his supporters deny his candidacy is unconventional. It would be an unprecedented leap to go from school board member to Gov. Gavin Newsom's successor. Yet his supporters say that's the draw. Grasty, who is running as a Democrat, is betting on voters feeling the same statewide. "The fact is nobody is talking about the issues I'm talking about," Grasty told San José Spotlight. "We have comfortable career politicians who aren't getting the job done and I'm here to fix that.""
With support from several Black community leaders, Mount Pleasant Elementary School District Trustee Derek Grasty declared his 2026 California gubernatorial candidacy at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose. San Jose has rarely produced governors despite Silicon Valley prominence. Grasty's bid follows Governor-hype by Mayor Matt Mahan, who declined a run. Grasty concedes the campaign is unconventional, noting the unprecedented jump from school board to governor. He promises to oppose federal immigration enforcement crackdowns, pursue tax credits for newborn and expectant families, create housing for teachers and firefighters, and target wasteful state spending.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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