California Governor Debate Collapses After Candidates of Color Excluded

Plans for a hastily arranged gubernatorial forum at KNBC-TV in Universal City collapsed Tuesday after candidates of color excluded from a previously scheduled debate at the University of Southern California were unable to participate on short notice, multiple sources confirmed.

The University of Southern California canceled its debate late Monday following criticism that its selection criteria excluded all candidates of color. Billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democratic candidate, then proposed an alternative forum moderated by KNBC, but those initially excluded had already made other commitments, according to sources.

“A lot of this came out of nowhere — there’s a debate and you’re not invited, followed by there’s no debate, and then maybe we should all hang out and have a conversation,” said Kyle Layman, a strategist advising former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

USC officials declined to comment on Tuesday’s developments, as did KABC-TV, a co-sponsor of the canceled debate. KNBC did not respond to requests for comment. Though, an individual involved in planning a potential debate at KNBC stated that organizing such an event within hours was impractical and unfair to candidates who had already adjusted their schedules after being initially excluded from the USC event.

“We looked into the possibility of doing something. It just wasn’t possible because of the last-minute logistics. It was not feasible,” the source said, speaking anonymously. “We couldn’t gain everybody here.”

The inability of the excluded candidates to participate reportedly frustrated some involved in the planning process. Becerra, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former state Controller Betty Yee had publicly protested their exclusion from the USC debate.

“Here’s like probably one of the last opportunities they have to be with other leading contenders of the race, so why not take this opportunity?” said a person involved in conversations about the proposed forum, as well speaking on condition of anonymity. “If the whole thing is about bringing your message to the voters, making sure voters have as much information as possible, talking about the issues that matter, wouldn’t you want to take every opportunity to do that?”

“If you’re going to talk a big game about taking your message to voters, the importance of debates, why not do it?” the source added.

Becerra, Thurmond, Villaraigosa, and Yee reportedly agreed not to participate in any debate that does not include all of them, a position Yee reiterated during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. “The idea that none of the candidates of color are going to be joining a debate is just inappropriate for a state like California,” Yee said. “We also demand to have a commitment from all of the debate sponsors that they will include all of us going forward.”

Neither Yee nor Thurmond were invited to the next scheduled televised debate, set for April 1 at Fresno State University. Becerra and Villaraigosa had previously confirmed their attendance, according to a news release from the Western Growers Assn., a sponsor of the event.

all four candidates of color, along with San José Mayor Matt Mahan, were not invited to a debate on April 22 in San Francisco, hosted by KRON-TV and broadcast on Nexstar Media Group stations. Mahan released a statement Tuesday evening calling for candidates to organize their own debates. “We don’t need gatekeepers,” Mahan said. “I’m calling on my fellow candidates to work together to organize our own debates — so One can take our ideas for a better California to every corner of California. Let’s let the voters truly decide.”

The canceled USC debate was to be hosted by the Dornsife Center for the Political Future and co-sponsored by KABC and Univision. The invited candidates were Democrats Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, Mahan, and Steyer, along with Republicans Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Steyer’s campaign attempted to create an alternative event after the USC debate was canceled. “We were trying to do the right thing upon learning that the debate was canceled at USC,” said a member of Steyer’s campaign, speaking anonymously. “Tom immediately was like, ‘We can do something alternative.’ People want to hear from the gubernatorial candidates. It was on the table. It was offered.”

“NBC couldn’t get all the candidates here, but we tried,” the campaign member said. “Given the short amount of time we were trying to put this together, it ultimately could not happen because not all the candidates could get to the studio.”

Thurmond participated in a YouTube interview Tuesday evening, while Yee attended scheduled events with the East Area Progressive Democrats and a women’s group in Los Angeles. Villaraigosa conducted interviews at his campaign office, Becerra was traveling, and Porter hosted a livestream on Instagram.