Michael Tubbs

Michael Tubbs
Born	Michael Derrick Tubbs 2 8, 1990
Birthplace	Stockton, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, public policy adviser
Title	Special Adviser for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to Governor Gavin Newsom
Known for	Youngest mayor of Stockton; first African-American mayor of Stockton; Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) universal basic 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; at age 26, he also became the youngest person ever to lead an American city with a population exceeding 100,000. Before serving as mayor, Tubbs represented Stockton's 6th District on the Stockton City Council from 2013 to 2017. His tenure as mayor drew national attention for the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), a pioneering guaranteed-income pilot program that provided 125 residents with $500 per month for two years. After losing his reelection bid in 2020 to Kevin Lincoln, Tubbs was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity. As of 2025, Tubbs 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 one of the city's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. His early life was marked by significant hardship: his father was incarcerated when Tubbs was young, and his mother, who had him as a teenager, raised him in difficult circumstances. Tubbs has spoken publicly about how his parents' struggles shaped his determination to pursue education and public service as a means of breaking cycles of poverty.

Growing up in Stockton exposed Tubbs to the challenges faced by many residents of the city, which had long struggled with high rates of poverty, crime, and unemployment. Stockton would later gain national attention for becoming the largest American city to file for municipal bankruptcy in 2012. These formative experiences in a community beset by systemic challenges would inform Tubbs's later policy priorities around economic opportunity, violence reduction, and community investment.

Despite these obstacles, Tubbs excelled academically and earned admission to Stanford University, an achievement he attributed in part to the lessons learned from his parents' experiences. His upbringing in south Stockton and the personal challenges he faced as the child of a teenage mother and an incarcerated father became central themes in his political identity and public narrative throughout his career.

Education

Tubbs attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was an engaged student who became involved in community service and leadership activities during his undergraduate years. His time at Stanford also connected him to influential mentors and networks that would prove instrumental in his early political career. He later returned to Stanford to complete a Master of Arts degree.

In 2017, Tubbs and another Stanford alumnus were awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarships, prestigious awards that fund graduate study at the University of Cambridge in England. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most competitive international graduate awards, and Tubbs's selection reflected his academic accomplishments and record of public engagement. Stanford University also recognized Tubbs with the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award, one of the university's honors for contributions to undergraduate education and student life.

Career

Stockton City Council (2013–2017)

Tubbs entered politics at a young age, running for a seat on the Stockton City Council representing the 6th District in 2012. At the time, he was still a student and recent graduate, and his campaign attracted attention both locally and nationally for its youth-driven energy. The campaign received a notable boost when media mogul Oprah Winfrey made a financial contribution, an unusual level of celebrity support for a city council race in a mid-sized California city.

Tubbs won the election in November 2012, succeeding Dale Fritchen as the representative for the 6th District. He took office on January 8, 2013, at the age of 22, becoming one of the youngest city council members in Stockton's history. His election came during a particularly turbulent period for Stockton, which was in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, and Tubbs entered office facing immediate fiscal and governance challenges.

During his time on the council, Tubbs focused on issues including public safety, economic development, and youth engagement. His council tenure was not without controversy; in October 2014, Tubbs was arrested for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.137, above the legal limit of 0.08. He subsequently returned to his city council duties after the incident. Tubbs served on the council until January 1, 2017, when he assumed the office of mayor. He was succeeded on the council by Jesús Andrade.

Mayor of Stockton (2017–2021)

Election

In 2016, Tubbs ran for mayor of Stockton. His campaign attracted significant endorsements, including one from President Barack Obama, a rare intervention by a sitting president in a municipal election that underscored the national interest in Tubbs's candidacy. He also secured endorsements from other notable figures and organizations during the race.

Tubbs won the mayoral election on November 8, 2016, defeating incumbent mayor Anthony Silva. His victory was historic on multiple fronts: at 26 years old, he became the youngest mayor in Stockton's history, the first African-American to hold the office, and the youngest mayor of any American city with a population over 100,000. The election was seen as a significant moment for Stockton, a city that had emerged from bankruptcy only a year earlier and was searching for new leadership to address persistent issues of poverty, crime, and economic stagnation.

Tenure

Tubbs took office on January 1, 2017, succeeding Anthony Silva. His administration focused on several key policy areas, including economic opportunity, violence reduction, and education. As mayor, Tubbs pursued an agenda that blended traditional municipal governance with innovative policy experiments, drawing national and international attention to Stockton.

The most prominent initiative of Tubbs's mayoralty was the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), a universal basic income pilot program launched in 2019. Under the program, 125 Stockton residents living at or below the city's median household income were randomly selected to receive $500 per month for 24 months with no strings attached. The program was privately funded and designed as a research project to study the effects of guaranteed income on recipients' financial stability, employment, and well-being. SEED drew significant media coverage and became one of the most closely watched social experiments in the United States. Tubbs discussed the program's goals and its potential to address racial wealth disparities in public forums, including a Time 100 Talks panel alongside Dr. Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr..

The SEED program's early results, published by independent researchers, showed that recipients experienced reduced income volatility, increased full-time employment, and improved mental health outcomes compared to a control group. The pilot inspired similar guaranteed-income experiments in dozens of other American cities and became a central talking point in national debates about poverty reduction and economic policy.

Beyond SEED, Tubbs's administration also focused on violence reduction strategies and efforts to improve Stockton's educational outcomes. His approach to governance frequently emphasized addressing root causes of poverty and crime rather than relying solely on traditional law enforcement responses, a philosophy he continued to advocate for after leaving office.

2020 Reelection Loss

In November 2020, Tubbs lost his bid for reelection as mayor to Republican challenger Kevin Lincoln. The defeat came despite Tubbs's high national profile and the attention his guaranteed-income program had brought to Stockton. Local factors, including concerns about public safety, homelessness, and the city's overall quality of life, contributed to the outcome. Tubbs left office on January 1, 2021, and was succeeded by Lincoln.

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 advises the governor's office on policies related to poverty reduction, economic development, and social mobility across California. The appointment allowed Tubbs to continue working on the policy issues that had defined his mayoralty, now on a statewide scale.

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income

Tubbs also founded Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), a coalition of mayors from across the United States who advocate for direct cash payment programs as a tool for reducing poverty and addressing economic inequality. The organization grew out of the SEED pilot program in Stockton and has supported the launch of guaranteed-income experiments in numerous American cities. Through MGI, Tubbs has worked to elevate the concept of guaranteed income from a local experiment to a national policy discussion.

2026 Lieutenant Governor Campaign

In 2025, Tubbs announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election. He delivered remarks at the California Democratic Party convention as part of his campaign. His candidacy positions him to seek a statewide office for the first time, building on his experience in municipal government and his advisory role under Governor Newsom.

Continued Advocacy for Stockton

Even after leaving the mayor's office, Tubbs has maintained close ties to Stockton and has continued to speak publicly about the city's challenges. In late November 2025, following a mass shooting in Stockton, Tubbs called for deeper investment in communities and urged policymakers to focus on the root causes of violent crime. He also noted that community activist Jasmine Dellafosse was injured in the shooting and was facing physical recovery.

In December 2025, Tubbs and several nonprofit organizations launched the Heal Stockton fund, a $100,000 initiative to support the grieving families affected by the Stockton mass shooting. The fund was created with financial support from multiple charities, including the Sacramento-based Sierra Health Foundation. The initiative reflected Tubbs's continued engagement with his hometown and his emphasis on community-based responses to violence and trauma.

Personal Life

Tubbs's fiancée (later wife) was described in local media as a world traveler, scholar, and mentor in her own right. Tubbs has two children.

Tubbs's personal story — as the son of a teenage mother and an incarcerated father who went on to attend Stanford University and become a mayor at age 26 — has been a recurring subject in media profiles and in his own public advocacy. A documentary film titled True Son explored aspects of Tubbs's life and his relationship with his hometown of Stockton.

Tubbs has been open about the impact of his father's incarceration on his upbringing and has used his personal narrative to advocate for criminal justice reform and expanded economic opportunities for communities affected by mass incarceration. He has frequently spoken about his belief that investing in education, economic mobility, and community infrastructure can help break cycles of poverty and violence.

Recognition

Tubbs has received several notable honors and awards over the course of his career. Stanford University awarded him the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. He was also selected as a Gates Cambridge Scholar in 2017, one of the most competitive international graduate fellowships.

His guaranteed-income work through the SEED program and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income brought him significant national recognition. He was featured in a Time 100 Talks panel discussion alongside Dr. Bernice King, discussing how universal basic income can help address the racial wealth gap. In 2025, Worth magazine included Tubbs in its "Worthy 100" list of notable American figures making an impact in public life and policy.

Tubbs's election as Stockton's first African-American mayor and the youngest mayor of a large American city generated extensive media coverage in both local and national outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, CNN, and CBS.

Legacy

Michael Tubbs's political career is most closely associated with the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, which became one of the most prominent guaranteed-income experiments in the United States. The SEED program's design as a randomized controlled trial, its transparent publication of results, and its emphasis on addressing poverty through direct cash transfers influenced dozens of subsequent guaranteed-income pilots launched by cities across the country. Through the founding of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Tubbs helped transform a local Stockton experiment into a national movement involving mayors from both major political parties.

Tubbs's election in 2016 was also significant in the context of Stockton's political history. As the city's first African-American mayor and its youngest, his victory was seen as a generational shift in a city that had struggled with bankruptcy, high crime rates, and persistent poverty. His emphasis on addressing root causes of violence and poverty, rather than relying solely on punitive measures, represented an approach to urban governance that attracted both supporters and critics.

His continued involvement with Stockton after leaving office, including the creation of the Heal Stockton fund following the 2025 mass shooting, has underscored his ongoing connection to the community where he was raised. As a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2026, Tubbs seeks to apply his experience in municipal government and policy innovation to a broader statewide platform.