With less than three weeks before Election Day, top candidates in the 2026 California governor’s race are set to face off in a debate Thursday evening in San Francisco.<\/p>\n
A joint venture between CBS News California and the San Francisco Examiner, the 90-minute debate will take place at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.<\/p>\n
Candidates were invited based on ballot qualification and a 1% polling threshold. The participants in the debate are Xavier Becerra (D), Chad Bianco (R), Steve Hilton (R), Matt Mahan (D), Katie Porter (D), Tom Steyer (D) and Antonio Villaraigosa (D).<\/p>\n
The moderators for the debate are CBS News Bay Area reporter Ryan Yamamoto<\/a>, CBS News Los Angeles reporter Tom Wait<\/a> and San Francisco Examiner editor-in-chief Schuyler Hudak Prionas<\/a>.<\/p>\n The format of the debate will allow candidates to question each other directly, and the broadcast will feature segments featuring real-world challenges facing California voters.<\/p>\n How to watch the debate<\/p>\n The governor’s debate will air live on CBS-owned stations in the San Francisco Bay Area (KPIX), Los Angeles (KCBS\/KCAL) and Sacramento (KOVR) beginning at 5:30 p.m. Pacific. A pre-debate segment hosted by CBS News Bay Area reporter Juliette Goodrich will begin at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n Following the debate, coverage on CBS News Bay Area will include analysis, fact-checks and voter reaction until 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n The debate will also air on KION in the Monterey Bay area.<\/p>\n Where to stream the debate<\/p>\n The debate will be streamed on CBSLA.com<\/a>, CBS Bay Area<\/a>, CBS Sacramento<\/a> and CBS News 24\/7, and its YouTube channels. Local CBS streams can be found on Paramount+, the Roku App and Pluto TV.<\/p>\n \n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n