A week after a high-profile gubernatorial forum at USC was cancelled following criticisms of its selection process, two Fresno colleges will each host a candidate forum on Wednesday.
The first event, hosted by agricultural advocacy organizations at Fresno State, is focused on issues facing the agricultural industry. The other, hosted at Fresno City College by a coalition of labor organizations and the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, will focus on San Joaquin Valley working people and families.
Six candidates from the crowded race, four Democrats and two Republicans, will participate in the “Affordability and Rural California” event on April 1 hosted by Western Growers, California Farm Bureau and the Agricultural Council of California, as well as other agricultural advocacy organizations.
Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia made a public appeal last week on X (formerly Twitter) inviting Democratic frontrunner U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell of Dublin to participate in what he called described as the only debate focused on rural California.
But Swalwell and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer will be absent due to scheduling conflicts, organizers said.
Fresno County District 4 Supervisor Buddy Mendes will co-moderate the event with Kristin Olsen-Cate, a former assemblymember and supervisor who represented Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. Mendes said the goal is to see if “these people know anything about ag.”
A March 4 email announcement from the Fresno County Farm Bureau said in the event would cover issues shaping the future of California agriculture, rural communities and food affordability. The forum will elevate the voice of the agricultural community and highlight the connection between regulatory costs and food prices, the Farm Bureau said.
Without elaborating on specific questions, Mendes said state regulations will be of particular concern.
“I think they (voters) need to know who’s running and how they answer these questions,” Mendes said.
All candidates were invited to attend, Mendes said. Candidates confirmed to participate in the event include, in alphabetical order:
Hi Congressman @ericswalwell. Good point. Perhaps you can resolve the conflict cited for declining to participate in the April 1 candidate forum at Fresno State. 30 farm groups sponsoring the only debate focused on rural CA, affordability and farm sustainability. Six leading… https://t.co/UYfnE3pgIg
— Dave Puglia (@Dave_Puglia) March 23, 2026
Candidates will have two minutes to provide an opening statement, the opportunity to answer questions and conclude with closing remarks.
Mendes said the event will keep a strict time count to keep the conversation flowing.
“You got six people that like to talk,” he said. “We’ll be firm but fair.”
The forum is scheduled for noon-1:30 p.m. at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union at Fresno State. Members of the public can register for the free event here.
Last week, a forum that was scheduled at the University of Southern California and co-sponsored by the KABC-TV Los Angeles was cancelled after mounting criticism that every prominent candidate of color was excluded from participating. The university — as well as other political scientists, public policy professors and researchers— defended the methodology used to select participants, which it says was based on a combination of polling and fundraising, and metrics consistent with formulas widely used to set debate participation nationwide, the L.A. Times reported.
According to a recent survey published by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, five candidates are in a close competition for the June 2 primary: Bianco, Hilton, Porter, Steyer and Swalwell.
The top two contenders will face off in the Nov. 3 general election.
Labor-focused candidate forum at Fresno City College 
The sign outside Fresno City College photographed in 2021. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
Later Wednesday, voters will have another opportunity to hear from five Democratic candidates at the “Central Valley Gubernatorial Candidate Forum” hosted by UC Merced Community and Labor Center and the Central Valley Worker Coalition, a group that represents 60 unions, worker centers, farmworker organizations and community-based organizations.
The non-partisan educational candidate forum aims to provide Central Valley residents and workers with an opportunity to learn more about the platforms and positions of candidates on issues including persistent poverty and unemployment, job quality, shifting local economies, immigration and the future of agriculture.
Confirmed participants include: Becerra, Mahan, Porter, Tony Thurmond (D), California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2019, and Villaraigosa.
All candidates were invited to participate. Bianco, Hilton, Steyer and Swalwell either declined or did not respond to an invitation to participate, organizers said.
This forum will be held 5:30-7 p.m. at Fresno City College’s auditorium and will be moderated by nonprofit newsroom CalMatters CEO Neil Chase.
Attendance is available at a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is available here.
Spanish translation will be available.
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Melissa Montalvo is The Fresno Bee’s accountability reporter. Prior to this role, she covered Latino communities for The Fresno Bee as the part of the Central Valley News Collaborative. She also reported on labor, economy and poverty through newsroom partnerships between The Fresno Bee, Fresnoland and CalMatters as a Report for America Corps member.