The University of Southern California (USC) canceled its planned gubernatorial debate Monday night — less than 24 hours before the event — after much criticism over its decision to exclude candidates of color.
USC released a statement late Monday night, saying while it stands by its “data-driven” formula to determine who has more viability to become California’s next governor, it acknowledged concerns over the criteria, and that it’s created a “significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.”
“USC has made the difficult decision to cancel (Tuesday’s) debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues,” the university said in a statement.
The controversy over USC’s formula to measure each candidate’s viability intensified last week when four candidates — Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee and Tony Thurman — held a virtual news conference, slamming the school’s decision and urging other candidates to boycott the debate.
The excluded candidates claimed the new formula introduced by USC was “rigged” to priorize candidates that entered the race later. Their example in question: San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who declared his candidacy at the end of January.
“We ask each and every candidate who is in this race to recognize that if we can’t have a fair process for a debate, then we should all not participate,” Becerra said last week.
The four candidates of color also argued that Mahan, a white candidate who polls lower than some of them, was invited to the debate.
“California is the biggest and the most diverse state in the nation. To do something that has the effect of excluding the four candidates of color is really just criminal,” Thurman said.
The Democratic candidates shared their proposals for health care, public safety and educational policies. Robert Kovacik reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Prior to Monday night, USC had determined, based on its “independent and objective” formula, Democratic candidate Tom Steyer, ex-Fox News host Steve Hilton, Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco only had a viable path forward, hence had been asked to stand on the debate stage.
The criteria, developed by USC professor Christian Grose, also established that ex-Health Secretary Becerra, ex-LA Mayor Villaraigosa, former State Controller Yee, California Superintendent Thurman did not meet the threshold because of their “lower polling and fundraising scores.”
Despite the California Democratic Party chair’s plea for low-performing candidates to drop out to avoid splitting up votes, resulting in two Republican candidates advancing to the run-off, none of the four candidates of color said whether they would suspend the campaign.
“The reality is that no candidate is polling in a majority in this race. This race is wide open,” Thurman said.