USC Cancels California Governor Debate: NYT Breaking News

The University of Southern California (USC) canceled a gubernatorial debate scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, following widespread criticism over the exclusion of candidates of color, according to statements released Monday night by the university and reported by NBC Los Angeles.

The decision to cancel came less than 24 hours before the debate was set to air on ABC7 and Univision, and after four excluded candidates publicly claimed the selection criteria were “rigged” to ensure only white candidates participated, as reported by the Associated Press.

USC stated it stood by its “data-driven” formula for determining candidate viability, developed by Professor Christian Grose, and that the formula is “based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support.” However, the university acknowledged the criteria had become a “significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.” NBC News reported the criteria focused on polling and fundraising numbers.

“Unfortunately, USC and KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates at tomorrow’s debate,” USC said in its statement. “USC has made the hard decision to cancel tomorrow’s debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues.”

The candidates excluded from the debate included Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, and Xavier Becerra, all of whom had voiced concerns about the fairness of the selection process, the Associated Press reported.

KABC, the television station co-sponsoring the event, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to NBC News. The New York Times reported the cancellation as breaking news on Monday.