Five televised debates made up the California governor debate schedule for the 2026 primary, running from April 22 through May 14, 2026, ahead of the June 2 primary election. With Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton now headed to the November 3 general election, no debates between the two finalists have been announced as of June 2026.1270toWin. 2026 Governor Polls: California
The Five Primary Debates
Each debate was hosted by a different media organization at a different location, and the candidate lineup grew as more contenders cleared qualifying thresholds.
April 22 — Nexstar, San Francisco
The first debate aired from KRON4 studios in San Francisco, moderated by Nikki Laurenzo and Frank Buckley and simulcast across six Nexstar stations along with NewsNation and The Hill.2Nexstar. Nexstar’s California Television Stations to Host Exclusive Live Debate Six candidates took the stage: Democrats Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Tom Steyer, and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.3NewsNation. NewsNation and The Hill to Carry California Gubernatorial Primary Debate
April 28 — Pomona College and CBS California, Claremont
The second debate was held at Bridges Auditorium on the Pomona College campus, co-hosted by Pomona College, CBS News California, and the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs organization.4Pomona College. 2026 California Gubernatorial Debate Eight candidates participated, with Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa joining the six who had debated the previous week. The 90-minute event was moderated by CBS anchors and Pomona politics professor Sara Sadhwani.5College of Marin. Watch Party: California Governor Debate
May 5 — CNN, Monterey Park
CNN hosted the third debate at East Los Angeles College Auditorium in Monterey Park, moderated by Kaitlan Collins and Elex Michaelson.6CNN. CNN California Governor Debate: What to Watch Seven candidates appeared: Becerra, Porter, Steyer, Mahan, and Villaraigosa for the Democrats, and Hilton and Bianco for the Republicans.7CNN. Takeaways From the CNN California Governor Debate
May 6 — NBC and Telemundo, Los Angeles
The following night, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 hosted a debate at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, moderated by Colleen Williams, Conan Nolan, and Enrique Chiabra. The same seven candidates from the CNN debate returned.8NBC Los Angeles. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 to Host Debate Doubleheader
May 14 — CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco
The final primary debate was held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner. Seven candidates participated in the last televised meeting before the June 2 primary.9Paramount Press Express. CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner Announce Final CBS California Governors Debate
The Canceled USC Debate
A sixth debate had been planned for March 2026, co-sponsored by the University of Southern California and KABC, but it was canceled before it took place.10NBC News. California Governor Debate Canceled After Criticism Over Exclusion of Candidates of Color A qualification formula devised by a USC professor, which weighted polling along with money raised or spent, produced a field of six candidates who were all white. Becerra, Villaraigosa, Thurmond, and Betty Yee were excluded.11CalMatters. California Governor’s Race Debate Cancellation Becerra urged invited candidates to boycott what he called a “biased forum,” and USC and KABC could not agree on expanding the field.
How Candidates Qualified
Each host set its own qualification rules, usually a combination of polling and fundraising. The Nexstar debate required at least 5% support in its March statewide poll.2Nexstar. Nexstar’s California Television Stations to Host Exclusive Live Debate NBC and Telemundo required 5% in at least two nonpartisan polls reported by May 1.8NBC Los Angeles. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 to Host Debate Doubleheader CNN used a similar mix of polling and campaign finance criteria.12LWV Diablo Valley. California 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate Debates
The field also shifted mid-series. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, the early Democratic frontrunner, suspended his campaign on April 12 following sexual assault and misconduct allegations reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN; he denied the allegations and resigned from Congress.13CalMatters. California Governor: Swalwell Out14New York Times. Swalwell Departure Scrambled Race for California Governor Because his exit came after the state deadline, his name remained on the June ballot but he did not appear in any of the five debates.
What About the General Election?
California’s top-two open primary, adopted by voters in 2010, puts all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party and sends only the top two finishers to November.15California Secretary of State. Primary Elections in California16California Secretary of State. 2026 Primary Election Returns: Governor17CalMatters. Primary Election: California Governor
Becerra and Hilton will meet in the November 3, 2026, general election. No debates between them have been announced as of June 2026. A Berkeley IGS poll of more than 8,500 registered voters conducted in mid-June put Becerra at 52% and Hilton at 31%.1270toWin. 2026 Governor Polls: California