California Governor Debate Abruptly Cancelled After Participation Rules Exclude All Non-White Candidates

A planned California gubernatorial debate has been cancelled after a formula to determine which candidates participate in the forum accidentally led to the exclusion of all non-white candidates. The debate was meant to feature only the six leading candidates in the race, all of whom happen to be white. The race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom in one of the bluest states in the nation has grown fraught in recent weeks as Democrats worry they may lose the office to Republicans by default. Under California’s election process, all candidates from all parties run in a single primary election, with the top-two vote getters moving on to the November general election. Currently, polling averages show that two Republican candidates are poised to take the top slots, meaning Democrats would by default be barred from competing in the general election if the GOP candidates come in first and second. The Los Angeles Times first reported late Monday that the University of Southern California and local television outlet KABC, which were supposed to host the debate on Tuesday, could not come to an agreement about how to change debate participation criteria. A formula to determine the participants was created by a USC professor in order to ensure a fair outcome based on current polling and candidates’ fundraising prowess. That formula led to an all-white debate field, leading many California Democrats to call for the debate to be scrapped altogether. The six candidates who were scheduled to attend are conservative GOP commentator Steve Hilton, Republican sheriff Chad Bianco — who are currently leading the primary field — Congressman Eric Swalwell, billionaire Tom Steyer, San Jose mayor Matt Mahan, and a former lawmaker, Congresswoman Katie Porter. “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,” the university says. “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.”The other four prominent Democratic candidates in the race, as well as many of their supporters, called on the debate to be cancelled or for other candidates to boycott. Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former state controller Betty Yee, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and state superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond were all excluded. All four of those candidates are polling in single digits. “We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers. Tonight USC made the right decision to cancel their March 24 gubernatorial forum … so hopefully next time it’s done right,” Mr. Becerra wrote on X Monday night. “Thank you to everyone who stood up, raised hell and demanded justice.” “It’s a shame it took so much pressure to get USC to do the right thing and cancel this debate. We never should have been here inthe first place,” Mr. Thurmond said in a statement Tuesday morning. Mr. Newsom has raised concerns about the sprawling primary field lacking a clear Democratic frontrunner. Messrs. Steyer and Swalwell have consistently polled highest of the Democrats in the race, though the presence of six other Democratic candidates is helping split the primary vote, raising the prospect that Messrs. Hilton and Bianco could be the only candidates in the general election. Earlier this month, Mr. Newsom said he agreed with the state party chairman’s call for Democratic candidates to drop out of the race by mid-April if they do not see a viable path forward. “At this moment in history, with all the peril and promise that marks this moment, for California … to have a Republican Trumper” as governor would not be acceptable, Mr. Newsom said at a book tour event. “There is no margin for error. This is a moment for real self-reflection.”

California Governor Debate Abruptly Cancelled After Participation Rules Exclude All Non-White Candidates

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