No clear front-runner has emerged in the crowded race ahead of the June 2 primary. Ballots will go out in early May.
FILE – California gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Feb. 21, 2026. FILE – California gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb.
21, 2026. FILE – California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. FILE – California gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Feb. 21, 2026. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of Southern California canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday after candidates of color who would have been excluded accused the school of discrimination. Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan, who are all white, were slated to participate in the debate hosted by the University of Southern California’s Dornsife Center for the Political Future and KABC-TV. But four established Democratic candidates of color, Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond, didn’t meet the criteria to participate.The university has defended a formula used to select the participants and denied allegations of bias. A public policy professor independently developed the criteria based on candidates’ polling and fundraising, the university said in a statement Friday. A group of 50 public policy and social science scholars from across the country defended the professor in a letter to the university’s president on Monday. “We urge USC to stand firm in rejecting all efforts to apply political pressure on its faculty and its overall academic mission,” they wrote. But the university reversed course Monday night, saying that the debate co-hosts couldn’t agree on a solution. The “data-driven candidate viability formula is based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support,” it said in a statement. “At the same time, we recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrow’s gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.”if their campaigns were no longer viable, citing the possibility that the two leading Republicans could advance to the general election. The all-GOP general election is possible under California’s unusual top-two primary system, which puts all candidates on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters advance to November, regardless of party. Hicks on Tuesday unveiled the results of a poll commissioned by the party that shows Hilton, Porter, Bianco, Swalwell and Steyer in close competition, and the other candidates trailing behind them. It’s consistent with other recent polling. “These results confirm the possibility, albeit a low one — the possibility of Democrats being locked out of the general election,” Hicks said. “More importantly, it’s yet another reminder of the undeniable fact that all candidates must honestly assess their viable path to win.”months after his competitors, but has outraised some of them thanks in part to contributions from ultrawealthy donors in Silicon Valley. Mahan said on the social platform X that “the answer isn’t to cancel debates, it’s to hear all voices.” The controversy escalated Monday when legislative leaders, including chairs of the Black and Latino caucuses, called on organizers to open the debate to the other established candidates. “If USC does not do the right thing, we call on California voters to boycott this debate,” they wrote. “If the university will not give voters a fair shot at evaluating everyone running for governor, voters should find other ways to learn about the candidates.” Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor who is Latino, celebrated the university’s decision to cancel the debate.Hiker found dead after being reported missing on El Cajon Mountain east of LakesideDel Mar residents once again fighting a bluff-top fence near train tracksAfter second trial, jury convicts San Diego County deputy who seriously injured restrained inmatePadres plan to preserve Manny Machado as best they can A little-known tax break saves San Diego owners of historic homes tens of millions. The benefits aren’t equally shared. A little-known tax break saves San Diego owners of historic homes tens of millions. The benefits aren’t equally shared.
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