The Game... Is On

Welcome to the revival of the long-running cable TV show, The Game. Mark Simon and Bob Marks bring you exclusive interviews with local leaders and talk widely about politics, business and sports from the San Mateo County Peninsula and beyond.

Our guests have included Kevin Mullin, U.S. Congressman representing D-South San Francisco, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, U.S. Congress, D-Menlo Park, Jim Irizarry, Assistant Chief Elections Officer of San Mateo County, Veteran sports broadcaster Ted Robinson, Jon Mays, Editor of the San Mateo Daily Journal, Danielle Cwirko-Godycki and Nicole Fernandez, members of the San Mateo City Council representing D2 and D4, Jerry Hill, a former State Senator, Julie Lind, a member of the San Mateo County Central Labor Council, Noelia Corzo, a San Mateo County Supervisor representing the 2nd District, Tom McCune, a member of the Belmont City Council, Isabella Chu, Diana Reddy, and Lisa Gauthier.

Most recent Episode

California Election Preview 2026: Governor’s Race, Trump’s Impact, Taxes & San Mateo County’s Future

2026-05-29T19:56:41+00:00

Days before California's 2026 primary, Mark Simon and Bob Marks convene a power panel to break down everything on the ballot. Congressman Kevin Mullin, San Mateo Daily Journal Editor Jon Mays, and Central Labor Council Executive Director Julie Lind join the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the governor's race, voter anger, low turnout, the billionaire tax, Bay Area transit funding, AI and the future of work, and key local races in San Mateo County.
Is anger driving this election, or is it fear? Who survives the governor's primary after Swalwell's dramatic exit? Can Tom Steyer buy his way into the top two? And what does San Mateo County look like a decade from now?
Guests:

Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15)
Jon Mays, Editor, San Mateo Daily Journal
Julie Lind, Executive Director, San Mateo County Central Labor Council

Topics covered:

• Voter anger, fear, and low primary turnout
• California governor's race: Becerra vs. Steyer vs. Hilton
• The Swalwell fallout and its impact on the Democratic field
• Redistricting, the Voting Rights Act, and political polarization
• The California billionaire wealth tax
• Bay Area regional transit funding and the messaging problem
• AI, automation, and the future of work in San Mateo County
• San Mateo County Assessor's race: Canepa vs. Irizarry
• Final predictions from the panel

Subscribe for more conversations on California politics, national issues, and the people shaping both.
The Game is hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks and produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com. You can see more information about The Game at TheGamePeninsula.com.

00:00 Introduction and panel introductions
01:26 Is anger driving the 2026 election?
04:28 What voters are saying about the governor’s race
06:06 Why Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, and other candidates are gaining attention
08:46 Low voter turnout and why ballots remain uncast
11:42 Strategic voting and late-breaking decisions
16:38 The biggest challenges facing California’s next governor
19:13 Debate over California’s top-two primary system
23:39 Why major Democrats stayed out of the governor’s race
26:13 Can Democrats retake the House in 2026?
29:07 Redistricting battles and political polarization
33:18 Tax measures, transit funding, and voter fatigue
40:21 The billionaire tax debate
50:22 What San Mateo County will look like in 10–20 years
51:40 AI, technology, and the future workforce
56:46 Labor’s concerns about automation and economic inequality
1:01:06 Election predictions: governor’s race and assessor contest
1:04:11 Post-panel analysis and final thoughts
1:10:13 Closing remarks
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Where to find The Game

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Past Episodes