Michael Tubbs

Michael Tubbs
Born	Michael Derrick Tubbs 02 08, 1990
Birthplace	Stockton, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, public policy adviser
Known for	Youngest mayor of Stockton; first African-American mayor of Stockton; Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) guaranteed income pilot
Education	Stanford University (BA, MA)
Children	2

Michael Derrick Tubbs (born August 2, 1990) is an American politician and public policy adviser who served as the 79th mayor of Stockton, California, from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Tubbs made history upon his election in 2016 as both the youngest mayor in Stockton's history and the city's first African-American mayor. Born and raised in Stockton during a period of economic hardship and rising violent crime, Tubbs first entered public office in 2012 at age 22, winning a seat on the Stockton City Council representing the 6th District. During his tenure as mayor, he gained national attention for launching the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), one of the first city-led guaranteed income pilot programs in the United States. After losing his reelection bid in 2020 to Kevin Lincoln, Tubbs was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as a special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity. As of 2025, he is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election.

Early Life

Michael Derrick Tubbs was born on August 2, 1990, in Stockton, California. He grew up in a challenging environment marked by poverty and family instability. His father was incarcerated when Tubbs was young, and his mother, who had him as a teenager, raised him largely on her own in one of Stockton's lower-income neighborhoods. Tubbs has spoken publicly about how his parents' circumstances — rather than discouraging him — served as a motivation to pursue academic achievement and civic engagement.

Stockton itself was undergoing significant difficulties during Tubbs's formative years. The city experienced high rates of violent crime, and its economy was severely affected by the foreclosure crisis of the late 2000s. In 2012, Stockton became the largest city in the United States to file for municipal bankruptcy at that time. These conditions shaped Tubbs's understanding of economic inequality and urban policy challenges, themes that would define much of his later political career.

Despite the hardships of his upbringing, Tubbs excelled academically. His personal story — of overcoming adversity in a city beset by economic and social challenges — later became central to his public identity and political campaigns. A 2014 documentary film, True Son, explored Tubbs's life story, chronicling his journey from growing up in Stockton to his early political career.

Education

Tubbs attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. At Stanford, he distinguished himself academically and through community involvement. He was awarded the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award, one of Stanford's most significant student honors, which recognizes outstanding contributions to undergraduate education at the university.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Tubbs returned to Stockton to begin his career in public service. He later earned a Master of Arts degree from Stanford as well. In 2017, after his election as mayor, it was reported that Tubbs was among Stanford alumni who had been awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarships, reflecting his continued engagement with academic and policy work alongside his political responsibilities.

Career

Stockton City Council (2013–2017)

Tubbs launched his political career in 2012, running for a seat on the Stockton City Council representing the 6th District. His candidacy attracted attention both for his youth — he was just 22 years old — and for the high-profile support he received. During the campaign, media mogul Oprah Winfrey made a financial contribution to his campaign, generating national coverage for the young candidate's bid. Tubbs won the election, succeeding Dale Fritchen as the council representative for the 6th District.

Tubbs served on the city council from January 8, 2013, until January 1, 2017. During this period, he focused on issues related to public safety, economic development, and youth programming in a city that was still recovering from its 2012 bankruptcy filing. His tenure on the council was not without controversy; in 2014, Tubbs was arrested for driving under the influence, with a recorded blood alcohol level of 0.137, above the legal limit of 0.08. Tubbs subsequently returned to the city council after the arrest and continued to serve out his term.

Mayor of Stockton (2017–2021)

In 2016, Tubbs ran for mayor of Stockton. His candidacy received significant endorsements, including one from President Barack Obama, a notable show of support for a local race. He also received endorsement coverage from local media outlets during the final days of the campaign.

Tubbs won the mayoral election on November 8, 2016, making history as the first African-American mayor in Stockton's history and, at age 26, the youngest person ever elected mayor of the city. His election also made him the youngest mayor of any U.S. city with a population exceeding 100,000 at the time. He succeeded Anthony Silva and took office on January 1, 2017.

Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED)

Tubbs's most nationally prominent initiative as mayor was the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, commonly known as SEED. Launched in 2019, the program provided 125 Stockton residents with a guaranteed income of $500 per month for 24 months, with no strings attached to how the money could be spent. The program was designed to test whether direct cash payments could help alleviate poverty and improve economic outcomes in a city that had struggled with high unemployment and economic dislocation.

The SEED pilot was one of the first municipally led guaranteed income experiments in the United States and attracted significant media attention. Reuters reported on the program's launch, noting Stockton's particular suitability as a test case given its history of economic hardship, including its 2012 bankruptcy. The San Francisco Chronicle covered the program in depth, examining whether $500 per month could meaningfully impact participants' lives and the broader city.

The program's results were closely studied by researchers and policymakers. In a TIME 100 Talks panel, Tubbs discussed the guaranteed income concept alongside Dr. Bernice King, exploring how such programs might help address the racial wealth gap and environmental injustice. SEED's influence extended beyond Stockton, as dozens of other cities across the country launched or announced similar guaranteed income pilot programs in subsequent years, often citing the Stockton experiment as a model.

Other Mayoral Initiatives

Beyond the guaranteed income pilot, Tubbs focused his mayoral tenure on addressing Stockton's persistent challenges with violent crime, economic development, and community reinvestment. KQED described Tubbs as a "fast-rising mayor" in a 2017 profile that examined his policy agenda and approach to governing a city still recovering from fiscal crisis.

Tubbs also worked on initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence and improving outcomes for at-risk youth in Stockton. He advocated for community-based approaches to public safety, a theme he continued to emphasize after leaving office.

2020 Reelection Loss

In 2020, Tubbs ran for reelection as mayor but was defeated by Kevin Lincoln, a Republican-turned-independent candidate. The loss was viewed as a surprise given Tubbs's national profile and the attention his programs had attracted. Lincoln took office on January 1, 2021, succeeding Tubbs.

Post-Mayoral Career

Special Adviser to Governor Newsom

Following his departure from the mayor's office, Tubbs was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as a special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity. In this role, Tubbs has worked on statewide policy initiatives related to poverty reduction, economic development, and social safety net programs. Worth magazine profiled Tubbs in its WORTHY 100 feature, noting his continued involvement in policy work through his advisory role with the governor's office.

Continued Advocacy and Community Engagement

Even after leaving the mayor's office, Tubbs has remained closely associated with Stockton and has continued to advocate for the city's communities. In November 2025, following a mass shooting in Stockton, Tubbs publicly urged a focus on addressing the root causes of violent crime and called for deeper investment in community-based programs. He also reported on the condition of community activist Jasmine Dellafosse, who was injured in the shooting.

In December 2025, Tubbs, along with several nonprofit organizations including the Sacramento-based Sierra Health Foundation, helped launch the Heal Stockton fund, a $100,000 initiative to support the grieving families affected by the mass shooting.

2026 Lieutenant Governor Campaign

As of 2025, Tubbs is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election. He has appeared at the California Democratic Party convention, delivering remarks as part of his campaign for the statewide office. The Sacramento Bee noted that for many, "Stockton is synonymous with Michael Tubbs," reflecting the extent to which his political identity remains tied to the city and the policy experiments he initiated there.

Personal Life

Tubbs has two children. His fiancée (later wife) was profiled by The Record in 2017 as a "world traveler, scholar, mentor," indicating her own independent professional and academic accomplishments.

Tubbs has been open about the impact of his upbringing on his worldview, frequently discussing how growing up with an incarcerated father and a young mother in Stockton informed his commitment to public service and economic justice. His personal narrative — of achieving academic success at Stanford and returning to serve his hometown — has been a recurring element of his public profile and political campaigns.

In 2014, Tubbs was arrested for driving under the influence, an incident he publicly acknowledged. He returned to his duties on the Stockton City Council following the arrest.

Recognition

Tubbs has received several notable honors throughout his career. At Stanford University, he was a recipient of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to undergraduate education.

In 2017, he was among Stanford alumni awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarships, one of the most competitive international scholarships for graduate study at the University of Cambridge.

His election as mayor of Stockton in 2016 was itself a historic achievement, as he became the city's first African-American mayor and, at 26, the youngest mayor of any American city with a population over 100,000. This milestone attracted national and international media coverage.

Tubbs's work on the SEED guaranteed income pilot drew particular recognition, leading to features in TIME, Reuters, the San Francisco Chronicle, and numerous other outlets. In 2025, Worth magazine included Tubbs in its WORTHY 100 list, a recognition of influential figures in politics and public life.

The 2014 documentary True Son, which chronicled Tubbs's early life and political career, was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, further raising his national profile.

Legacy

Michael Tubbs's political career, though still in its early stages, has already left a measurable impact on American urban policy, particularly through the SEED guaranteed income program. The Stockton pilot, which provided $500 monthly payments to 125 residents, became a reference point for a broader national movement exploring direct cash transfers as a tool for poverty reduction. Dozens of cities across the United States subsequently launched or announced similar programs, often explicitly citing the Stockton experiment. The program contributed to a renewed national conversation about universal basic income and economic support systems, occurring alongside broader debates about inequality that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tubbs's tenure as mayor also represented a symbolic milestone for Stockton, a city of roughly 310,000 that had long struggled with negative perceptions related to crime, poverty, and its 2012 municipal bankruptcy. His election as the city's first African-American mayor and youngest mayor drew attention to Stockton's potential for reinvention and to the role of young political leaders in addressing entrenched urban challenges.

His continued engagement with Stockton after leaving office — including his role in organizing relief efforts following the November 2025 mass shooting — reflects an ongoing connection to the community that defined his political rise. His candidacy for lieutenant governor in 2026 represents an effort to apply lessons from his local experience to statewide governance in California.

The KQED profile from his early days as mayor captured the sense of possibility that surrounded Tubbs's ascent, describing him as a figure whose trajectory reflected broader questions about economic mobility, racial equity, and the capacity of local government to drive meaningful change.