Eight candidates vying to become California’s next governor will take the stage Tuesday evening at Pomona College’s historic Bridges Auditorium in Claremont.
The 90-minute debate, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., represents the most inclusive gubernatorial forum of the 2026 election cycle.
The debate lineup includes Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, alongside Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa. According to Pomona College, all candidates with active campaigns who appeared on the ballot and had at least 1% support in both the Emerson College and LA Times/UC Berkeley polls received invitations.
The debate will air across CBS-owned California stations in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and affiliates in San Diego, Bakersfield and Palm Springs. CBS will also stream the event nationally via CBS News 24/7.
“Pomona College is honored to host the most inclusive debate in this year’s cycle thus far,” President G. Gabrielle Starr said in a statement. “Civic engagement and dialogue across differences are necessary for a thriving democracy — and core to the liberal arts tradition here at Pomona College.”
CBS Los Angeles anchor Pat Harvey, CBS Sacramento anchor Tony Lopez, CBS Bay Area anchor Ryan Yamamoto, CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts and Pomona College political science professor Sara Sadhwani will moderate the event. The Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association partnered with CBS and Pomona College to organize the debate.
The debate will focus on pressing issues facing Californians, including public safety, housing, immigration and the economy, with questions informed by CBS News polling.
Last week, six of the leading candidates participated in their first televised debate of the election cycle. Tony Thurmond, California’s superintendent of public instruction, and Antonio Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor, will join the debate stage for the first time Tuesday.
Recent polling shows the race remains wide open. A survey of likely primary voters conducted in mid-April found Steve Hilton, a Republican political commentator, in the lead with 17%. Chad Bianco, the Republican Riverside County sheriff, and Tom Steyer, a progressive environmentalist, followed at 14% each.
Xavier Becerra and Katie Porter, who represented an Orange County congressional district for three terms, both clocked in at 10% each. Matt Mahan, San Jose’s mayor, received 5% support in the Emerson College poll that had a margin of error of +/- 3%. Still, 23% of likely voters surveyed said they were still undecided in the race.
Former Controller Betty Yee was initially invited to attend the debate but suspended her campaign last week after struggling to gain traction with voters.
Built in 1931, Bridges Auditorium can seat about 2,400 people and has hosted notable figures including Taylor Swift, Muhammad Ali, Amelia Earhart and Sandra Day O’Connor. Only credentialed media and invited guests are allowed to attend the debate. Pomona College is holding a watch party at Frary Dining Hall for students, faculty and staff who were unable to receive tickets.
The California gubernatorial primary election will take place in June 2026, with 61 people in total having qualified for the ballot.
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