All articles tagged with #gubernatorial debate
USC canceled its planned gubernatorial debate after backlash that its invitation criteria excluded all candidates of color; a last-minute KNBC-moderated alternative could not be assembled in time due to scheduling conflicts, leaving several candidates of color and Matt Mahan out and highlighting gatekeeping concerns ahead of California’s 2026 race.
A California gubernatorial debate co-sponsored by USC and KABC was canceled hours before it would begin after criticism that the qualifying criteria—based on polling and fundraising—excluded nonwhite candidates. USC defended the rules as research-based, while excluded campaigns denounced the process. The invited lineup—Porter, Steyer, Swalwell, Bianco, Hilton, and Mahan—was all white, prompting calls from excluded candidates’ camps for a fairer forum and plans for a separate event that never materialized as the USC-KABC debate was scrapped.
Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra blasted USC and ABC for a March 24 debate that would exclude all candidates of color, calling the eligibility criteria biased; USC and the Center for the Political Future say the selection weighed polling and fundraising data, with six invitees including late entrant Matt Mahan, while Becerra and other excluded candidates condemn the process as discriminatory and unfair in a crowded race ahead of the June primary.
During the final New Jersey gubernatorial debate, candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill exchanged personal attacks on issues including the opioid crisis, energy policies, national politics, and Sherrill's disciplinary records, with the debate becoming notably contentious as the race tightens.
The Mississippi gubernatorial debate between Republican Tate Reeves and Democrat Brandon Presley turned into a fiery exchange of accusations, with both candidates accusing each other of lying and corruption. The debate covered topics such as healthcare, Medicaid expansion, corruption scandals, campaign donors, tax cuts, and education funding. Despite the heated exchange, neither candidate presented any major new policies or accusations likely to sway undecided voters.