Only one of the candidates for California governor will appear in a splashy Super Bowl ad on Sunday, though a rival has locked in a valuable spot on Animal Planet’s lighthearted, cuddly “Puppy Bowl” before the big game. “This Super Bowl ad kicks off our support for Matt Mahan’s run for governor,” said committee spokesman Matt Rodriguez. A spokesperson for Mahan declined to comment on the committee or its game day ad. But Mahan’s entry into the race has excited the tech and business interests that have until now avoided giving. “This isn’t charity — it’s an investment so they get richer while everyone else gets priced out of California,” Steyer spokesman Kevin Liao said.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 07, 2026 23:01 UTC