Michael TubbsMichael Tubbs

I did not think I was gonna vote for him, but lieutenant governor is not a job that really has much power in California, and he wants to give it some power and he has the skills to back up

I’m running for Lieutenant Governor to make California more affordable and prove that government can deliver results, not just make promises. I grew up poor, raised by a single mom. My family and community taught me resilience and service—values that helped me attend Stanford and be elected Mayor of Stockton at the age of 26. I took office when Stockton was in crisis—just years after bankruptcy. Working with our community, I charted a new path. Thanks to partnerships with police, we cut homicides by 40% and achieved the state’s largest decline in officer-involved shootings. Unemployment hit near record lows. Stockton was named the state’s second most fscally healthy city. I launched a guaranteed income pilot that lifted people out of poverty and has been emulated by over 150 cities. California faces serious challenges: too much talk, and not enough action. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll focus relentlessly on affordability: I’ll fight to lower the cost of higher education—whether vocational programs or college. I’ll introduce outside-the-box ideas to build affordable housing so Californians can stay in the state we love. And I’ll champion proven solutions like guaranteed income programs to end poverty and prevent homelessness. I’ll use the office to drive accountability and accelerate solutions that work. I’m honored to have the endorsements of SEIU California, California Working Families Party, and leaders across the state who believe California needs leaders who know how to govern—and deliver. My vision is simple: a California that works for everyone. michaeltubbsforca.com

Tubbs leads a nonprofit focused on ending California poverty. He became Stockton's youngest and first Black mayor at age 26 in 2016, implementing a universal basic income pilot program. Raised by a single mother in poverty before receiving a Stanford scholarship, he served one term before losing reelection. He was appointed special economic adviser to the governor in 2021.

Key endorsements: SEIU California, California Working Families Party, AFSCME.

Michael Tubbs is a former mayor of Stockton and recognized statewide as a leader focused on expanding economic opportunity and effective public policy. Shaped by the challenges faced in his youth, having grown up in poverty and forced to navigate systemic barriers, he has maintained a clear commitment to addressing inequality through pragmatic, results-driven solutions. As mayor of Stockton, Michael championed numerous initiatives such as guaranteed income pilots, public safety reform, and investments in education and housing that resulted in the city being named the second-most fiscally healthy city in California and one of the most fiscally healthy cities in the nation. Tubbs brings a disciplined, equity-focused approach to governance and is committed to ensuring all Californians, including LGBTQ+ communities, have the opportunity to succeed.

Source (https://www.milkclub.org/endorsements)

Michael Tubbs is a real candidate for change in this race, having the endorsement of CA Working Families Party and championing Universal Basic Income in Stockton!

VIG listing; Occupation: Anti-Poverty Non-Profit Director

The California lieutenant governor is effectively the state’s vice president – a largely symbolic second executive officer. As such it’s not an especially important race, though the office is an automatic member on the boards that govern public universities and public land in California. This race has fewer candidates than the governor’s, with the top two advancing to the ballot in November. On this list, former Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs has one of the better alignments between campaign promises and the job he’s running for. He’s promised to build housing for students and staff on university-owned land, freeze tuition for California’s world-leading public universities, and realign coastal construction rules to phase out oil and gas and phase in housing construction on climate-resilient parts of the coast. These are all within the powers of the lieutenant governor and would represent a step forward for the state.

WFP endorsed