Spring 2024 Fellow
Michael Tubbs is the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity; the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI); and the Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC). In 2016, he was elected Mayor of Stockton at 26-years-old. He was the city’s first African-American Mayor, and the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history. As Mayor, Tubbs was lauded for his leadership and innovation. He raised over $20 million dollars to create the Stockton Scholars, a universal scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students. Additionally, he piloted the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the country.
Under his leadership, Stockton was named an “All-America City” in 2017 and 2018 by the National Civic League. The city saw a 40% drop in homicides in 2018 and 2019, led the state of California in the decline of officer involved shootings in 2019, and was named the second most fiscally healthy city in California. Additionally, it was recognized as one of the most fiscally healthy cities in the nation and was featured in an HBO documentary film, “Stockton on My Mind.”
Tubbs has been named a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics and The MIT Media Lab, a member of Fortune’s Top 40 under 40, a Forbes 30 under 30 All Star Alumni, the “Most Valuable Mayor” by The Nation, the 2019 New Frontier Award Winner from the JFK Library, and the 2021 Civic Leadership Award winner from The King Center. Prior to his tenure as Mayor, Tubbs served as a Councilmember for the City of Stockton District 6, a high school educator, and a fellow for the Stanford Design School and the Emerson Collective.
On November 16, 2021, Tubbs released “The Deeper The Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home” published by the Flatiron Books imprint, An Oprah Book. The book—which the LA Times describes as “intimate and insightful”—not only relates Tubbs’ story of growing up in poverty, but lays his vision for leadership and policy that is more empathetic and responsive to people who are struggling.
Study Group: Being a Mayor in the 21st Century — The Room Where it Happens (At Least Locally)
In an era with national partisan gridlock and seemingly intractable problems, Mayors are emerging as political leaders who have to deliver — even without the resources or formal authority to do so. In this study group, Michael Tubbs, the former Mayor of Stockton and the youngest Mayor of a major city ever in the country’s history, shared a practitioner’s perspective on the job of a Mayor, including how to innovate while in government (he launched the country’s first Mayor-led guaranteed income pilot, new models for reducing violence and policing, and countless public-private partnerships) and how to balance good politics with good policy, through case studies and conversations with current and former Mayors.
Spring 2024 Semester Recap
Michael Tubbs said this about his experience at USC’s Center for the Political Future: “Serving as a CPF Fellow was a needed reminder that the future is in great hands. I learned so much from my students as they probed, questioned, and brainstormed ideas they had to create the societies we deserve to live in. I enjoyed seeing politics from their perspective and challenging them in their leadership development journeys. My favorite part was watching their ‘aha!’ moments, when a speaker would say something that shifted their thinking or inspired them to think about their own path to public service and future contribution to the world.”
USC students in Michael’s study group shared this about their experience:
“I learned a lot about topics regarding the day-to-day that mayors are responsible for, along with long term responsibilities.”
“I gained valuable insights into community leadership and innovative solutions to social issues. The discussions with fellow participants enriched my understanding of public policy and inspired me to think creatively about driving positive change in our city. My favorite part of the study group was the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who were passionate about making a difference. The sense of camaraderie and shared commitment to community empowerment made the experience truly rewarding.”
MD Zuhayeer Iqbal, Political Science
“My experience in this study group gave me great insight into how local policy and politics works in a medium-sized city, particularly in a polarized one such as Stockton. Hearing Mayor Tubbs’ perspective, as an innovative leader in an uneasy political environment, taught me the importance of bringing unique perspectives and genuine passion for your constituents if you want to make change, both at an official and grassroots level.”
“This study group really inspired my interest in politics. Going into it, I knew I was interested but I didn’t know much about what my career could look like or what politicians or organizers were like as people. This study group gave me a genuine connection to these people and made me understand how they think and feel more connected to the political world. It was a motivating experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.”
“I learned about the different mechanisms of how local government functions, and that a successful career in politics can look like a lot of different things, from community organizing to serving on the state level to running a city as mayor. My favorite part of this study group was how it fostered deep and honest conversations about politics and how to address various issues through local government, and how we were able to take in different insights from each guest speaker.”
Michael shared his thoughts on the importance of politics, his first political experience, his advice for having respectful political discourse, and what he appreciates about CPF in his “Quick Takes: Q&A with CPF Fellow Michael Tubbs” video.