South Bay labor icon Cindy Chavez will not run for San Jose’s top political seat next year, removing one of the major obstacles for the city’s sitting mayor to win re-election.
“San Jose has wrapped her arms around me and I have done my best to do the same,” Chavez wrote in an email communication sent Thursday evening. “While I have decided not to run for Mayor of San Jose, I will continue to help move our city forward and help tackle the critical issues impacting our residents and community.”
Chavez, a fixture of Silicon Valley politics for decades and currently serving as Santa Clara County’s District 2 supervisor, ran against Mayor Matt Mahan during last year’s election considered by many to be a major upset that pitted a longtime elected official against a relative newcomer.
The race was a nail-biter, with Mahan winning by just a couple of percentage points after a campaign that was marked by fierce ideological differences over how to solve some of the city and region’s most vexing issues like homelessness and housing affordability. The campaign also brought in record amounts of money into both candidates’ coffers.
The decision by Chavez on Thursday leaves Mahan, a moderate who was supported by the city’s business bloc during last year’s campaign, without a clear opponent going into next year’s March 5 primary. The deadline for candidates to apply is Dec. 8, according to the city clerk’s office. In addition to the mayor’s race, Districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are all up for grabs and a total of 16 candidates have already filed.
Chavez, who will term out of her county seat next year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In April, Chavez said she was in the running for a top administrative position in San Diego County, though it was unclear Friday whether she was still considering the role.
Jean Cohen, who leads the South Bay Labor Council, said Chavez has been a “brilliant” and “impactful” leader for the region.
“Her leadership has changed Santa Clara County permanently,” said Cohen in an interview. “She’s part of a movement of business, labor and community leaders who’ve always believed San Jose can do better. I’m confident that she is going to continue to have an impact locally and regionally.”
Cohen declined to comment on other labor leaders who may step up to challenge Mahan. Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, a rising star in the region’s labor bloc and a Chavez ally, also declined to comment if she running.
Terry Christensen, a political science professor emeritus at San Jose State University, said he is not surprised by Chavez’s announcement.
“It would’ve been a really tough race,” said Christensen, who said any challenger against Mahan would have had to start fundraising in August. “And a lot of money to raise in a short period of time.” Christensen said he doesn’t expect a serious challenger to emerge against Mahan.
A champion of progressive politics since the late 1990s, Chavez served first as a San Jose councilmember before becoming a Santa Clara Supervisor in 2013. Chavez’s first bid for San Jose mayor was in 2006 when she lost to Councilmember Chuck Reed in a November runoff. She has also served in leadership roles at the South Bay Labor Council and the labor think tank Working Partnerships USA. During her political tenure, Chavez has been an advocate for women’s rights issues and affordable housing initiatives, helping push through a $950 million bond for affordable housing in 2016.
This is a developing story and will be updated.