As a proud West Hollywood resident, openly gay advocate, and someone who has spent more than a decade fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in local government and on the national stage, I know what real progress looks like — and what empty posturing costs us. That’s why I’m proud to serve as Special Advisor and Liaison to San José Mayor Matt Mahan’s campaign for California governor, with a particular focus on the LGBTQ+ community and Southern California. And it’s why I’m endorsing him without hesitation.
California’s challenges — skyrocketing housing costs, homelessness, public safety, and economic pressure on working families — cannot be solved with slogans or viral moments. The best resistance to Donald Trump and the national forces attacking our values isn’t performative outrage; it’s measurable results. Strong outcomes in housing, safety, opportunity, and equality are what actually protect our communities and prove that progressive governance works. Matt Mahan is the only candidate in this race who has consistently delivered those outcomes.
I’ve seen this firsthand in my own work. As a former appointee to West Hollywood’s Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board and the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, I’ve fought for affordable housing, anti-discrimination protections, and real support for LGBTQ+ residents. I served as an official LGBTQ+ surrogate for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and for President Obama before that. Those experiences taught me that bold visions collapse without the discipline to execute them.
Grandstanding might feel good in the moment, but it doesn’t house people, it doesn’t keep our streets safe, and it doesn’t stop the erosion of rights we’ve fought so hard to win. Matt Mahan gets this. As mayor of California’s third-largest city, he has focused relentlessly on solutions over rhetoric. Under his leadership, San José has expanded housing production, reduced unsheltered homelessness (an issue that affects our community disproportionately) through accountable programs, strengthened community policing, and cut red tape to make government work for residents instead of against them. These aren’t abstract promises — they’re track records of measurable progress that he is ready to scale statewide.
Nowhere is this results-oriented approach more important than in defending and advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Matt has repeatedly and unequivocally stood with our community. In his Pride Month messages, he has affirmed that “San José stands with our LGBTQ+ community — especially as attacks on rights across the nation have been front page news.” He has marched in Silicon Valley Pride, celebrated the 50th anniversary of Pride events, and supported city resolutions affirming support for transgender and broader LGBTQ+ communities in the face of rising hate. He has made clear that diversity and inclusivity are core to what makes California great.
In a time when anti-LGBTQ+ forces are emboldened nationally, the most effective defense isn’t just another press release or protest chant. It’s a governor who delivers the housing, economic security, public safety, and opportunity that let LGBTQ+ Californians — especially our youth, our seniors, and our most vulnerable — live openly, safely, and with dignity. Performative posturing may rally the base for a news cycle, but it doesn’t stop evictions, fund mental health services, or protect our rights in the long run. Results do. West Hollywood has always been a beacon for our community because we have demanded more than symbolism — we have demanded progress. Matt Mahan represents that same spirit on a statewide scale.
He is the pragmatic, proven leader who can move California forward without sacrificing our values. That’s why I’m endorsing Matt Mahan for Governor. And I urge my neighbors in West Hollywood, and every Californian who believes in solutions over rhetoric, to do the same. In June’s primary, let’s choose the candidate who doesn’t just talk about a better future — he delivers it.
-James Duke Mason
West Hollywood
James Duke Mason is Special Advisor and Liaison to Matt Mahan for Governor (LGBTQ+ Community & Southern California) and a West Hollywood resident.
Sighs. You’re all going to do the thing that leads to the outcomes you’re on here complaining about. Don’t be surprised when it keeps happening.
Mahan, represents nothing but a slight repackaging of existing policy plans, and for the CalDem Elites, a minor adjustment with their succession hierarchy – easy fixes in the grand scheme of things.
For them, continued profit and success. For us? The ratcheting squeeze of a one party state.
In “Calmatters” Jeanne Kuang wrote “With so many Democrats potentially splitting the vote & only two Republican frontrunners essentially tied in the polls, splitting the GOP vote, the chances of the Democrats being shut out are real.” Kuang is spot on & the Democrats could be perilously close to losing the governor’s office to a strongly far right Donald Trump supporter & endorser, one of whom, Steve Hilton, supported Donald Trump’s “investigation” into the 2020 election, which Trump called fraudulent & rigged, without a shred of evidence. That’s enough of a reason not to vote for Martin. As of now,… Read more »
I totally agree. I think those who are stuck at the bottom rung of the ladder should drop put now & put their support behind a leading Democratic candidate and help us win this. I don’t know why so many people run for a governor’s office when so many don’t have the qualifications or experience or talent. I think there should be an automatic cutoff date that the candidates who don’t reach a certain level in the polls should be eliminated.
I was at a Brian Goldsmith event on Tuesday and he asked those gathered who had made their mind up about governor. Only 5 out of 35 had made a definite decision. The race is so murky that we may be making up our minds when we get into the voting booth.
Oh really Steve? Who is “we”? Please speak for yourself instead of “we”. You really think that, after this wide span of time “we” have had to learn about the candidates & be resourceful & thoughtful enough to have a pretty reasonable and/or solid idea about who we’re going to vote for, especially with all the worry & anxiety concerning this governor’s race, that “we” can’t absorb enough knowledge & information about the qualifications of the candidates, and also especially with all the dead weight on the Democrat’s slate, that “we” may wait & decide when “we” get into the… Read more »
Just for the record, …… there was massive evidence for the 2020 election being rigged.
More than 60 courts, including judges appointed by Republican presidents, reviewed the evidence and rejected every claim. The Department of Justice, led by Trump’s own Attorney General, found no evidence of widespread fraud. Election officials in every contested state, many of them Republicans, certified the results. That’s the record. I’m publishing your comment to correct it.
Yes, I know all that.
How come nobody knows about it except you & Donald Trump?
You’d be surprised.
I like Matt Mahan, but he is a serious candidate and needs a better “liaison” than Duke Mason. “Spent more than a decade…” doing what, exactly? Duke is not a thought leader. We need more substantial people leading this charge. People who have held jobs, gotten degrees, or accomplished … anything. Waking up at 11am and working out at 2pm is not a job just because it’s called a “work” out.
Matt Mahan was my second choice going into last night’s debate; I have been a long time fan of Xavier Becerra. But this was the second debate in a row where Xavier came off as weak and less forceful and did not make a convincing impression. Mahan at least has a record of actually running a major California city and has brought down homelessness, reduced crime and fostered economic vitality in San Jose. His stance with LGBTQ issues is nice but hardly a deciding factor in getting my vote. California may have the world’s 4th largest economy but we are… Read more »
I take the attacks from self-proclaimed “progressives” as validation of Mahan’s strong sensibilities and clear-headed style of governance. I wanted to like Porter, but like Karen Bass was, I think Porter made a great legislator but would be an awful executive.
I’m with Duke on this one, 100%. Can’t wait for the angry and intolerant rhetoric that will spew from WeHo’s own empty-suited fake progressives who are full of buzzwords and little else.
All I hear is gay, gay gay and resist Trump. More of the same old crap. Democrats/progressives have had a stronghold on this state for the last 15 years or so. One party rule has destroyed this state. Progressive policies have failed. They can’t blame Trump. They can’t blame anybody else other than themselves and their bad policies. They have been in complete control of this state and no one else. Wake up and vote differently otherwise it’s the same old garbage policies with a new face.