California Governor’s Debate Canceled Because Candidates Were Too White
The University of Southern California canceled a debate planned for California’s gubernatorial primaries because all of the invited candidates were white, multiple media outlets reported.
USC and KABC-TV invited Riverside County Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, as well as Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and left-wing billionaire Tom Steyer to the debate based on a formula combining poll numbers and campaign funds, the New York Times reported. The decision sparked complaints from excluded Democratic candidates, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former California State Comptroller Betty Yee, according to NBC Los Angeles. (RELATED: Blue State Senator Openly Admits Who Democrats Care Most About)
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra delivers remarks on reproductive care alongside Senate Democrats at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building June 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“We’re asking every candidate that’s in this race to recognize that if we can’t have a fair process for a debate, then we shouldn’t all be in it,” Becerra, who recently scored in the single digits in the poll, said during a virtual press conference held March 20.
“This was supposed to be based on polls and money raised. Some of us managed to raise more money and are higher in the polls than an invited candidate,” said Villaraigosa, who also scored less than 5 percent at the same press conference.
State Democratic Party leaders have tried to push some of the Democrats running to drop out, citing polls showing that Bianco and Hilton, a former Fox News contributor, would advance to the November general election by winning the top two spots in the state’s multiparty primary, which takes place June 2.
“All candidates must honestly evaluate their viable path to victory, and I continue to call on them to do so,” California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement released Tuesday that included polling showing Hilton and Bianco advancing.
If a Democrat advances to the November general election runoff, he or she will be heavily favored to win in the state, which hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006 and hasn’t been carried by a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
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