Matt Mahan

In April 2026, an anonymous complaint was filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) alleging that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s gubernatorial campaign illegally coordinated with an independent expenditure committee (PAC) called California Back to Basics. The complaint alleged that Mahan discussed campaign strategy and messaging with PAC donors during a fundraising call, violating rules that prohibit coordination between candidates and independent committees. Mahan has stated that the complaint was rejected. There have been no findings of corruption, fraud, bribery, convictions, or ethics violations against him. Separate from the coordination complaint, his administration has faced criticism regarding potential conflicts of interest involving his chief of staff, Jim Reed, who helped manage PACs and nonprofits supporting Mahan while serving in city government.