CNN Debate In Los Angeles Features Seven Candidates For California Governor

California’s next governor race is set to be tested on Tuesday night in a CNN debate in Los Angeles, with the event scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and moderated by CNN anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins.

“The top seven contenders in a crowded and highly competitive race to become California’s next governor will face off in a CNN debate Tuesday at 6 p”

CNN

The Mercury News lists seven candidates on the debate stage: Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

CNN

The same outlet says the debate will be hosted by CNN and will air on TV at CNN as well as on CNN.com and its TV and mobile apps for streaming subscribers.

It also states that the primary election is on June 2 and that the top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will advance to the November runoff.

CNN’s Kyung Lah reports that the “top two vote-getters in the June primary advance to the November ballot, regardless of party,” and that “the Democratic field has no clear candidate.”

The Mercury News adds that voting by mail has begun and that Vote Centers will open for in-person voting on May 23 in Voting Choice Act counties, including Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties.

CNN also frames the debate as coming “at a pivotal time, with the first mail ballots currently being delivered to voters in the June 2 primary,” and notes that the first- and second-place finishers will advance to November’s general election regardless of party.

The debate’s lineup is tied to specific qualification rules described by The Mercury News, which says CNN required candidates to meet the state’s qualifications, have raised, contributed or loaned at least $1 million toward their campaign, and have received at least 3% support among likely primary voters in two California gubernatorial polls.

The Mercury News says the network “didn’t indicate which polls it relied on,” and it notes that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond “didn’t make the cut.”

Kapitalis

It then provides polling snapshots ahead of the debate: a CBS poll ahead of that network’s debate last week conducted April 23-27 found Hilton at 16%, Steyer at 15%, Becerra at 13%, Bianco at 10%, Porter at 9%, Mahan and Villaraigosa 4% and Thurmond 1% among likely voters with a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.

The Mercury News also cites a Survey USA poll April 28-May 1 that found Hilton at 20%, Steyer at 18%, Bianco at 12%, Porter at 8%, Mahan at 7%, Villaraigosa at 5% and Thurmond at 2% among likely primary voters with a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.

CNN’s preview adds another polling reference, saying “a CBS News-YouGov poll published last week put Hilton among those bunched at the top of the field at 16% and Bianco at 10%.”

The Desert Sun adds context on polling movement, saying Becerra “holding between 19% and 24% of likely voters” in an EMC Research poll and a Gudelunas Strategies poll, and it says Hilton “captured between 19% and 23% in the two polls.”

It also reports that “More voters, however, remain undecided (24%) than set on any one candidate,” citing the EMC Research poll.

The Desert Sun describes the debate as arriving “just as mail-in ballots start to hit California voters’ mailboxes,” and it places the event on Tuesday, May 5, in the Los Angeles area.

“The clash of the titans”

L'Express

It says the qualified candidates are Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, along with Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

The outlet also links Becerra’s rise to the departure of Eric Swalwell from the governor’s race amid sexual assault allegations that he has denied, and it says Becerra “went from polling in the single digits before the fallout in early April.”

It quotes political science professor Thad Kousser of the University of California, San Diego, saying the governor’s race has “been puzzling in that really no one has emerged as the front-runner in either party.”

Kousser adds, “Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco remain pretty even, even after Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton. That didn't send him ahead,” and the Desert Sun reports that “no one has pulled away from the pack yet.”

CNN’s preview similarly emphasizes strategy in California’s top-two primary, explaining that “figuring out the right one — and executing it — isn’t easy,” and it highlights the risk that Democrats could “gang up on a Republican” or fail to prevent a Republican-vs.-Republican outcome.

CNN also recounts a specific line from Becerra, saying he “notably sought to tie Hilton to Trump, calling the president “Steve Hilton’s daddy” and asking whether he opposed Trump’s tax cuts.”

CNN’s preview of the debate places cost of living at the center of the candidates’ likely exchanges, stating that “No issue matters more in American politics right now than the cost of living,” and that it matters “more each day the Iran war drags on and gas prices rise or at least stay high.”

It says California has long been one of the most expensive states to live in and gives a specific figure: “Gas costs an average of $6.11 per gallon in California, the highest of”

Le Parisien

CNN also describes how the debate could become a referendum on immigration and corporate influence, saying the “likeliest hit on Becerra is that he’s not progressive enough on issues like immigration and corporate influence.”

It adds that Becerra’s tenure as Biden’s HHS secretary is part of the critique, stating that “his tenure as Biden’s HHS secretary wasn’t a success.”

CNN also describes a potential clash involving Tom Steyer and Katie Porter, saying “Steyer could seemingly be a focal point as well,” and it reports that Porter targeted Steyer at last week’s debate by referencing fossil fuel investments.

CNN quotes Porter’s attack, saying “her campaign was effectively funded by that money, given he has self-funded more than $130 million.”

The Desert Sun similarly describes earlier debate moments, including Porter telling Bianco, “Excuse me, I'm speaking,” as Porter discussed the state’s FAIR Plan insurance crisis while Bianco interjected.

Beyond the debate itself, the sources describe high-stakes political scenarios tied to California’s top-two primary system and the possibility of a Republican-versus-Republican general election.

“Seven contenders will clash on a high-stakes CNN debate, while early mail ballots already arrive across California”

mezha.net

The Desert Sun explains that California has a top-two primary, “a system that allows for the possibility of two candidates from the same party to face off in a general election,” and it frames the 2026 narrative as the possibility that Democrats could be “locked out of the top two because they have so many candidates.”

mezha.net

CNN’s preview similarly warns that Democrats’ “nightmare scenario is that the top two finishers on June 2 are both Republicans who then face off for the Governor’s Mansion.”

It adds that “Otherwise, it’s virtually assured the next governor will be a Democrat,” while also noting that “A Republican-vs.-Republican race is less likely now” after the Democratic field shrank and after President Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton over Chad Bianco.

The Le Parisien source describes the scenario as “no longer entirely improbable,” saying California could elect a new Republican governor “15 years after Arnold Schwarzenegger left office,” and it states that “this insane scenario is no longer entirely improbable.”

It also reports that “Unlike other U.S. states, California does not hold partisan primaries,” and that “the two with the most votes on June 2 will then face each other in the November general election.”

Le Parisien quotes Chad Bianco saying on April 22, “It will be him and me in November,” and it describes Bianco as “the Riverside County sheriff.”