Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs Enters 2026 California Lieutenant Governor Race
Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs—who serves as an advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom— has officially launched his 2026 campaign for California lieutenant governor. He will join State Senator Steven Bradford and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who had previously declared their bids for the office.
“California is at a crossroads. We have to start solving some of these issues,” Tubbs posted on X. “We need a problem-solver with a different mindset, different experience, different background, different outlook who’s willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work.
“The dream that brought millions to California for a better life is increasingly out of reach. We won’t restore California’s promise by looking to the past. We need a bold vision for the future. That’s why I’m running to be California’s next Lieutenant Governor.”
In 2016, at just 26 years of age, Tubbs made history as Stockton’s first African American mayor and the youngest mayor of any major city in American history. He went on to establish the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, the nation’s first-ever mayor-led guaranteed income pilot, earning praise from the likes of President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey. He parlayed that effort into creating Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a coalition of over 30 mayors which advocates for an income floor for all Americans.
“Today is just the beginning of our fight,” the 33-year-old politician said. “Our fight for bold, innovative solutions to the challenges facing California.”
Kobe Bryant’s Father Passes Away at 61
Elgin Nelson
Former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, passed away at 69. La Salle University, where Bryant both played and coached, announced that he was a beloved member of their community and will be dearly missed. Although an official cause of death hasn’t been revealed, La Salle’s head coach Fran Dunphy mentioned that Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke. Following Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in 2020, Joe Bryant seldom appeared in public. Kobe had once praised his father as a great basketball mind who taught him how to view, prepare for, and execute the game. Joe Bryant enjoyed a notable career, starring at La Salle and later playing in the NBA for teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers, and Rockets. After his NBA tenure, he played internationally and began coaching in 1992, including a stint as head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. He also held various coaching roles across the U.S., Japan, and Thailand.