GO INTO COMMITMENT COVERAGE NOW. TONIGHT, SEVEN OF THE CANDIDATES IN THE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR ARE GOING TO BE FACING OFF ON THE DEBATE STAGE IN THE EFFORT TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES TO YOU. YOU CAN WATCH THIS ON KCRA THREE. IT’S GOING TO BE THE SECOND DEBATE IN TWO DAYS. THE SEVEN CANDIDATES CAME TOGETHER LAST NIGHT IN A DEBATE WITH CNN. THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE STATE’S HOMELESS CRISIS AND HEALTH CARE. THE REALITY IS OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BROKEN 30% OF THE COST IN CALIFORNIA IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST. WE CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO BRING DOWN THOSE COSTS. NUMBER TWO, WE ARE NOT INCENTIVIZING HEALTH. WE REWARD FEE FOR SERVICE, MORE PROCEDURES, MORE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. WE SHOULD REWARD DOCTORS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR MAKING PEOPLE HEALTHIER. I AM FOR SINGLE PAYER. ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DELIVER HEALTH CARE AS A RIGHT AT A COST THAT CALIFORNIA CAN AND THAT’S WHY THE NURSES SUPPORT ME. I WAS WITH THEM THIS MORNING. THEY KNOW THAT I WILL FIGHT FOR SINGLE PAYER UNTIL WE GET IT. WE SHOULD TRY TO GET TO A MEDICARE FOR ALL PROGRAM. AND WHILE WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK IN THAT DIRECTION, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE ARE EXPANDING COVERAGE BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE TO DO IS GIVE GIVE PEOPLE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THEIR HEALTH CARE. I BELIEVE IN THAT HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE, THAT IT SHOULD BE UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE AND HIGH QUALITY. AND THE ACTUAL WAY WE DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE IN THIS STATE IS TO AT LEAST STOP SPENDING $20 BILLION A YEAR ON FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO SHOULDN’T EVEN BE IN THE COUNTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT’S ILLEGAL. THEY ENTERED THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO COME HERE TO TAKE MORE OF THE RESOURCES THAT CALIFORNIANS AREN’T GETTING, THE ONES THAT ARE STRUGGLING HERE, THAT ARE HERE LEGALLY, THEY’RE NOT GETTING THAT. THEY’RE NOT GETTING FREE EDUCATION. MEDICAL, THEY’RE NOT GETTING FREE FOOD. THEY’RE NOT GETTING ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WOULD ANYONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE CARE, THE REST OF US ARE AT RISK WHEN PEOPLE DON’T GET VACCINATIONS, WHEN THEY DON’T GO TO THE DOCTOR, THEY WIND UP IN THEY CAUSE LONGER LINES FOR THE REST OF US. THEY MAKE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THEY PUSH IT TO THE BRINK. AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE EXPANDED HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH COVERAGE. KCRA, ALONGSIDE OUR NBC PARTNERS, WILL BE HEARING THE LAST SCHEDULED DEBATE WITH THE TOP CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR THE DEBATE WILL FOCUS ON WILDFIRES, IMMIGRATION, HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SEVEN OF THE TOP CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED T
California governor candidates face off on key issues. Watch Wednesday’s debate on KCRA 3
Updated: 10:19 AM PDT May 6, 2026
Seven top-polling candidates in California’s crowded governor’s race will meet for a debate in Los Angeles on Wednesday, each aiming for a breakout performance with voting already underway for the June 2 primary election.Under California’s primary system, the top two vote getters in the primary advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. KCRA 3 will carry the one-hour debate from Skirball Cultural Center live starting at 7 p.m. on air and via livestream in this story. Watch in a video player player below after it starts.Who are the candidates in the debate? The debate features five Democrats and two Republicans. They are: Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, DemocratRiverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, RepublicanFormer Fox News host Steve Hilton, RepublicanSan Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, DemocratFormer Congresswoman Katie Porter, DemocratEnvironmental advocate and businessman Tom Steyer, DemocratFormer Assembly Speaker and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, DemocratHeading into the debate, a recent poll by California Democratic Party showed Becerra and Hilton tied for first place with 18% support each. Republican Chad Bianco follows with 14% support, while Democrat Tom Steyer has 12%. Democrats Katie Porter and Matt Mahan are at 8% and 7%, respectively.What topics will the candidates debate? Wildfires, immigration, homelessness, public safety and quality of life.Follow the debate with live updates. KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala will be liveblogging the debate on X. See those updates below after 7 p.m. KCRA 3’s Gulstan Dart will be live in Los Angeles with coverage of the debate and reaction on our evening newscasts.Who is hosting and moderating the debate? NBCLA is hosting the debate. The station’s anchor Colleen Williams, chief political reporter Conan Nolan and Noticiero Telemundo 52 News anchor Enrique Chiabra are moderators. Learn more about who the candidates qualified for the debate here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
LOS ANGELES —
Seven top-polling candidates in California’s crowded governor’s race will meet for a debate in Los Angeles on Wednesday, each aiming for a breakout performance with voting already underway for the June 2 primary election.
Under California’s primary system, the top two vote getters in the primary advance to the general election in November, regardless of party.
KCRA 3 will carry the one-hour debate from Skirball Cultural Center live starting at 7 p.m. on air and via livestream in this story. Watch in a video player player below after it starts.
Who are the candidates in the debate?
The debate features five Democrats and two Republicans. They are:
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, DemocratRiverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, RepublicanFormer Fox News host Steve Hilton, RepublicanSan Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, DemocratFormer Congresswoman Katie Porter, DemocratEnvironmental advocate and businessman Tom Steyer, DemocratFormer Assembly Speaker and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat
Heading into the debate, a recent poll by California Democratic Party showed Becerra and Hilton tied for first place with 18% support each. Republican Chad Bianco follows with 14% support, while Democrat Tom Steyer has 12%. Democrats Katie Porter and Matt Mahan are at 8% and 7%, respectively.
What topics will the candidates debate?
Wildfires, immigration, homelessness, public safety and quality of life.
Follow the debate with live updates.
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala will be liveblogging the debate on X. See those updates below after 7 p.m.
KCRA 3’s Gulstan Dart will be live in Los Angeles with coverage of the debate and reaction on our evening newscasts.
Who is hosting and moderating the debate?
NBCLA is hosting the debate. The station’s anchor Colleen Williams, chief political reporter Conan Nolan and Noticiero Telemundo 52 News anchor Enrique Chiabra are moderators. Learn more about who the candidates qualified for the debate here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel