Michael Tubbs’s work has pushed forth a progressive agenda focused on poverty reduction, public safety, workforce development, community engagement, and organizing and collective impact strategies. Elected at the age of 26, Tubbs served as mayor of the City of Stockton, California, for four years. He made history as both the nation’s youngest mayor for a city of over 100,000 people and as Stockton’s first Black mayor. As Mayor of Stockton, Tubbs secured a $20 million private donation to launch “Stockton Scholars,” which provided up to $4,000 to help students pay for college or trade school for a decade; brought “Advance Peace” to the city, a program that works to reduce gun violence in communities; and launched the nation’s first-ever municipal level basic income pilot, known as the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED). Tubbs leadership has received national recognition.
Prior to becoming mayor, Tubbs served as Stockton’s District 6 City Councilmember. Elected at age 22, he became one of the youngest City Councilmembers in the country. As a councilmember, Tubbs created the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, championed the creation of the City’s Office of Violence Prevention, and was part of the council that led the city out of bankruptcy as Chair of the Audit and Legislative Committee.
Tubbs has also served as a college course instructor for Aspire Public Schools and as a Fellow at both the Stanford Institute of Design and the Emerson Collective.
Tubbs received both his Bachelor and Master of Arts from Stanford University.