CA Governor Debate Canceled: USC & ABC7 Disagree on Candidate Selection

LOS ANGELES — A gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday at the University of Southern California has been canceled, according to a joint statement released by USC, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles, and Univision.

The debate, intended to feature six candidates vying for the governorship of California, was called off after organizers failed to reach an agreement regarding the inclusion of additional candidates. ABC7 had planned to broadcast the debate alongside its sister stations in San Francisco and Fresno. The selection of the six participating candidates was based on criteria commonly used in debates nationwide, focusing on polling data and fundraising totals, according to ABC7.

USC acknowledged that concerns over the selection criteria had become a “significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.” The university stated it had explored options to expand the number of participants but was unable to reach a consensus with KABC. “Unfortunately, USC and KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates at the debate,” the statement read. “USC has made the challenging decision to cancel the debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues.”

The cancellation follows an outcry regarding the exclusion of candidates of color from the debate, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The debate’s planned format and selection process had drawn criticism from those advocating for broader representation among the candidates given airtime.

The debate had originally been scheduled for March 24, 2026, according to ABC7 San Francisco. The joint statement did not indicate whether a future debate would be rescheduled or if alternative plans for candidate forums were under consideration.