USC cancels California governor debate after exclusion controversy
The University of Southern California and KABC-TV pulled a scheduled debate after selection criteria excluded four established Democratic candidates of color, prompting calls from legislative leaders and a threatened voter boycott. The move lands about 10 weeks before the June 2 primary and complicates a crowded field in which two Republicans currently top a recent Democratic Party poll.
Mar 24, 2026, 11:34 PM EDT
Why it matters:
- The cancellation removes a high-visibility chance for voters to compare leading contenders and intensifies concerns about fairness after minority candidates were left off the stage.
Driving the news:
- USC and KABC-TV canceled a gubernatorial debate that had been scheduled for Tuesday. - Six candidates who had been slated to appear were Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan. - Four established Democratic candidates of color—Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond—were excluded under the selection criteria. - USC said the participant formula was developed by a public policy professor and was based on polling and fundraising data, and later said hosts could not agree on a fix.
By the numbers:
- A California Democratic Party VOTER Index poll shows Steve Hilton at 16% and Chad Bianco at 14%, with Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer each near 10%. The survey polled 2,000 likely voters with a ±2.19% margin of error. - About 24% of respondents were undecided in that poll, and roughly three-quarters named a preferred candidate.
The big picture:
- California uses a top-two primary: the two highest vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to November — a crowded Democratic field raises the risk that two Republicans could advance. - The race lacks a clear front-runner and has many contested names, making each debate and media moment potentially decisive.
What they're saying:
- USC defended the “data-driven candidate viability formula,” calling it research-based and academically supported. - Legislative leaders, including chairs of the Black and Latino caucuses, demanded the debate be opened to excluded candidates and warned voters to boycott if it was not. - Antonio Villaraigosa said USC "made the right call, even if it came late and under pressure." - California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks warned the poll results underscore a real risk Democrats could be locked out of the general election if votes split.
What to watch:
- Whether USC or other hosts reschedule a debate with a revised participant plan or open access before the June 2 primary. - Next VOTER Index poll (the party plans periodic releases) and whether the leading candidates consolidate support from undecided voters.
The bottom line:
- The canceled debate sharpens stakes in an already crowded primary and hands momentum to whichever campaigns can quickly fill the visibility gap.