Six contenders for California's governorship will face off in a prime-time debate Wednesday, broadcast across Nexstar Media Group's national and state networks. The event, "Debate Night in California: The Race for Governor," represents a critical juncture in the campaign, offering voters a direct comparison of policies and personalities ahead of the primary.
The participants qualified based on a recent Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media Group survey of California voters. The main debate begins at 10 p.m. EDT, with special coverage starting two hours earlier at 8 p.m. EDT. It will be simulcast on NewsNation and livestreamed on The Hill and NewsNationNow.com, while also airing on Nexstar's California television stations.
Moderators and Candidates
The debate will be moderated by two prominent California political journalists: Nikki Laurenzo, news anchor at KTXL FOX40 in Sacramento and host of "Inside California Politics," and Frank Buckley, veteran morning news anchor at KTLA in Los Angeles.
The Republican field on stage will feature conservative commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who is campaigning on lowering the cost of living and improving public safety, and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. He will be joined by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a 30-year law enforcement veteran whose platform centers on affordability, housing, and public safety.
The Democratic contenders include billionaire and former 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer, who is focusing on making the state more affordable; former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is highlighting the affordability crisis and healthcare costs; former Congresswoman Katie Porter, who is running on a platform of economic relief for working-class families and healthcare access; and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a former Teach For America educator.
Notable Absences
Several expected participants will not be on the debate stage. Former front-runner Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations he denies. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are also not participating. Former Comptroller Betty Yee ended her campaign this week, citing polling and fundraising challenges.
The debate occurs against a backdrop of intense national focus on policy, from security to international affairs. As candidates prepare to discuss state issues, global tensions persist, with a deadline for a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire also looming on Wednesday. The event will test how state-level candidates address local concerns while national debates, such as those over airport security privatization, continue to unfold.
For Hilton, the debate is an opportunity to demonstrate his policy vision independent of his high-profile endorser, having previously argued that Trump's national unpopularity in California is irrelevant to the state's race.
The outcome of this debate could significantly reshape the trajectory of the race, offering candidates a crucial platform to distinguish themselves on the state's most pressing issues: housing, healthcare, public safety, and the high cost of living that dominates voter concerns.
