Four California gubernatorial candidates Friday criticized a decision by USC/ABC 7 not to change the format of an upcoming debate and for “excluding candidates of color.”
In a news conference via Zoom, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa and Betty Yee urged their fellow colleagues and candidates not to participate in the debate.
“We are asking for a fair process, not a predetermined process,” Villaraigosa said.
The four candidates are challenging the parameters used by organizers for their selection.
“When the sponsors say the methodology was based on `well-established metrics consistent with formula widely used to set debate and participation’ — their words – we don’t want them to say it. We want them to show it,” Villaraigosa said.
Villaraigosa said he asked USC, one of the organizers, to provide the formula and it has yet to produce it.
“This smells,” Villaraigosa added. “This smells like someone’s cooking the books.”
Yee emphasized that voters are now paying attention to the race and it’s imperative to give them the perspectives of all the candidates.
“When it’s a subjective criteria that’s been applied to this, and the candidates that are not going to be participating based on that subjective criteria represent, frankly, the communities that make up the majority,” Yee said.
“We are a minority-majority state and the idea that the four candidates of color are not going to be on that stage to bring those perspectives to really speak to those communities — is really not doing right by the voters,” Yee added.
ABC7, ABC30, Univision and USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future are co-hosting the debate, called “Your Voice, Your Vote: Race for Governor 2026.
In a statement issued by USC, the organizers denied any allegations that the debate criteria was in any way biased in favor or against any candidate.
Organizers noted the general parameters for the debate were established last year when candidates were notified that a debate would take place with the top performing candidates.
At the request of USC, professor of political science and public policy Christian Grose “independently developed the data-driven methodology to rank candidates’ viability for the debate,” the statement read.
This methodology includes a combination of polling and fundraising data.
“It simply would not be fair or feasible to invite every candidate in such a crowded field. This is consistent with a debate held in February with seven candidates and a debate next month with five candidates announced, all of which are participating in our debate,” USC said in its statement.
The Center for the Political Future is inviting all candidates to sit down with them for interviews, which the organization will post on their website for voters to view.
ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles and Univision have committed to continuing their coverage of the candidates on their platforms, as well.
Thurmond challenged the organizer’s statement, adding “The reality is that no candidate is polling in a majority in this race. This race is wide open.”
The debate is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m., moderated by ABC7 anchor Marc Brown. He will be joined by ABC7 Eyewitness News political reporter Monica Madden, ABC30 Central California anchor Warren Armstrong and Noticiero N+ Univision 34 Los Angeles anchor Gabriela Teissier, who will ask questions as panelists.
Participants in the debate include the following:
— Chad Bianco, a republican and Riverside County sheriff;
— Steve Hilton, a republican, a Fox News contributor and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron;
— Matt Mahan, a democrat and San Jose mayor;
— Katie Porter, a democrat, the former U.S. representative for California’s 47th Congressional District;
— Tom Steyer, a democrat, an entrepreneur and former presidential candidate; and
— Eric Swalwell, a democrat, and representative for California’s 14th Congressional District.