Governor’s debate canceled following controversy

USC canceled a gubernatorial debate set to be held on March 24 after widespread claims that the debate purposefully left out candidates of color.

The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future was organizing the debate, with ABC/KABC Los Angeles and Univision set to co-host and televise in both English and Spanish. Many of the Democratic candidates, including those who were invited, have been calling for the inclusion of all candidates regardless of their positioning in USC’s debate criteria formula.

"USC vigorously defends the independence, objectivity and integrity of USC Professor Christian Grose, whose data-driven candidate viability formula is based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support,” said a USC statement sent to the media late Monday night. “At the same time, we recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrow’s gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters. 

“Unfortunately, USC and KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates at tomorrow’s debate. As a result, USC has made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues." 

Controversy surrounding the debate began as early as March 16, when former Human and Health Services Secretary and candidate for governor Xavier Becerra sent letters to USC, ABC7 and Univision calling the debate criteria a “patently arbitrary, spontaneous qualification formula.” 

The former California Attorney General took issue with no candidates of color being invited to participate, while a white candidate, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, was invited despite polling lower than Becerra and others.

Uproar continued as the other candidates of color in the race, including former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former State Controller Betty Yee, expressed their disappointment with how the debate was structured.

"USC made the right call, even if it came late and under pressure ... as California voters make their decision, the debate stage should be open to all the major candidates to present their plans and ideas," said Villaraigosa in an X post Tuesday.

Yee, the only woman of color in the race, said in a statement "today is a win for California voters who deserve to hear from all major candidates, not just a chosen few. This is a reset, a turning point in the race. It’s time to rise above the political noise and let the voters decide - because they deserve better." 

The Democrats who were invited – Mahan, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter – all took to social media in the last week calling on USC to expand its debate to include all of the Democratic candidates. 

The CALÓ News Editorial Board published an editorial last week condemning the debate's exclusion of people of color who are running for the governor's seat.

Also invited to the debate were political commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, both Republicans who are polling fairly high.

Becerra took the debate cancellation as a win, saying in an X post late Monday night that “hopefully next time it’s done right.”

“Thank you to everyone who stood up, raised hell and demanded justice,” reads the post. “Never give up when you’re fighting for fairness!”