In an inspiring opportunity for students, faculty and staff to engage in-depth with the democratic process, Pomona College hosted a debate between the top candidates for California governor in historic Bridges Auditorium on Tuesday, April 28.
The 90-minute debate offered viewers and voters a discussion of the major issues facing the state. Candidates were invited based on polling and fundraising from both political parties. CBS stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno and Santa Barbara broadcast and streamed the debate.
Pomona College to Host Largest Gubernatorial Debate of 2026 Race
Nine candidates have been invited to participate, giving voters an opportunity to assess a broad set of policy perspectives in one of the state’s most consequential elections.
Watch the Debate
Watch the CBS LA stream as Xavier Becerra (D), Chad Bianco (R), Steve Hilton (R), Matt Mahan (D), Katie Porter (D), Tom Steyer (D), Tony Thurmond (D) and Antonio Villaraigosa (D) debate on Pomona College’s campus.
Newsmakers
Some of the most important issues for California voters in this election include affordability, jobs, housing, the environment, immigration, mental health, clean energy and AI. Learn how Pomona's faculty experts are examining these issues, and how Pomona students are advocating on the state and national level.
Get Involved & Watch
From the live event at Bridges Auditorium to parallel and additional programming at Frary Dining Hall, there were plenty of ways to get involved and watch the debate.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on the 2026 California Gubernatorial Debate at Pomona College, check out our frequently asked questions.