When we first heard that the former mayor of Stockton, Michael Tubbs, announced a 2026 bid to become lieutenant governor, we were left scratching our heads. Tubbs – often touted by the media as a progressive Democratic rising star – hasn’t risen much since his improbable mayoral victory at age 26. In 2020, he lost his re-election bid to an unknown newcomer by nearly 13 points.
Stockton is a hard-scrabble blue-collar city at the north end of the San Joaquin Valley, a poster child for persistent crime problems. The city’s finances have improved since its “historic” bankruptcy, but it continues to struggle. Tubbs’ main claim to fame – beyond his plan to pay gang members $1,000 a month to set aside their guns – was called Universal Basic Income.
UBI pays selected residents a monthly stipend with no strings attached. Tubbs funded the plan through a private philanthropy, so it avoided taxpayer expenditures. But its supporters’ goal for creating this pilot program was to generate widespread interest in similar potentially taxpayer-funded efforts. Supporters tout studies showing that people like receiving free money.
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Stockton voters tired of a mayor with an eye on statewide politics rather than filling local potholes. After he lost, Tubbs published a memoirpresenting himself as a visionary. He then served as an unpaid adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Lieutenant governor is apparently just his next step. “My hope is to do such a great job … that in four to eight years, after the job, I have all types of options,” he told the Associated Press.
It actually may be the perfect job for him. The lieutenant governor serves on a few commissions, but has no real responsibilities unless the actual governor leaves the state, becomes incapacitated or dies.
It pays $175,000 a year, so it’s a glorified UBI program for ambitious politicians who can spend their time bloviating.
He’s facing stiff competition, so it’s probably for naught. Anyway, the most inspiring politicians are ones that focus on the nuts-and-bolts of budgeting and public services, rather than harebrained schemes to transform society.
