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USC and ABC won’t change California governor debate format, reject accusations of bias

March 20, 2026

ABC and USC will not expand the debate stage for the left-out California gubernatorial candidates next week, the hosts said in a joint letter Friday, rejecting accusations of bias.

Six candidates were invited to participate in Tuesday’s debate, hosted by ABC7/KABC-TV and the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future: Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, as well as Democrats Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Eric Swalwell.

Candidates were invited based on a scoring method that ranked their viability, taking into account recent polling and fundraising. While polling was weighted more than fundraising, that latter component was also divided by the number of days a candidate was in the race.

The top six candidates were invited to debate on Tuesday, March 24.

But it was noted that meant candidates of color, who have been polling toward the lower end of the bevy of Democratic contenders and didn’t score as highly, were excluded.

An attorney for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa threatened “legal remedies” this week if ABC and USC did not end up including him, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra sent a letter to USC President Beong-Soo Kim last week, calling it “chilling and dangerous” for the college to “so willingly abandon basic fairness to engineer an exclusionary format” for the debate.

In a lengthy letter on Friday, shared first with the Southern California News Group, ABC and USC said candidates were notified last year that the debate would include only the top-performing folks.

“As we lead up to Tuesday’s California gubernatorial debate, we want to be clear that we categorically, unequivocably deny any allegations that the debate criteria was in any way biased in favor or against any candidate and want to clarify the facts,” the letter said.

Christian Grose, a political science professor at USC who came up with the system but had no other input in who made the debate stage or how many candidates could be included, said earlier this week that the formula for scoring candidates was done blindly — meaning it was put together without looking at actual figures and how candidates would score.

And neither ABC nor USC influenced the development or implementation of that scoring methodology, the letter said.

“All of the candidates in the race have served this state with honor and distinction. We understand the frustration of those who aren’t included and have sought to address their questions directly,” the letter said. “We have had in-depth discussions about expanding the debate’s format; however, there is a significant gap between the top six candidates and the seventh, eighth and ninth placed candidates. It simply would not be fair or feasible to invite every candidate in such a crowded field.”

“This debate — which features six candidates —represents a snapshot of where the California race currently stands after months of campaigning, significant media coverage of all candidates, and at least one other debate,” it continued.

“If we were to change the composition of the debate participants at this stage, we would be doing the very thing these candidates are accusing us of doing by unfairly influencing the criteria to reach a pre-determined outcome,” the letter said. “We respect the process, are committed to a straightforward, objective approach, and look forward to hosting a meaningful conversation on the issues of the greatest importance to voters this election season.”

According to the formula, Steyer came in first, followed by Hilton, Swalwell, Porter, Mahan and Bianco. Becerra was next, followed by Villaraigosa. They were followed by former state Controller Betty Yee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

A spokesperson for Becerra or Villaraigosa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More debates are scheduled next month, one with at least a similar candidate lineup.

Nexstar Media Group is scheduled to host a debate April 22 with Bianco, Hilton, Porter, Steyer and Swalwell all invited to participate. The candidates were chosen, a release said, based on whether they had earned at least 5% in its March statewide poll and “Nexstar’s other criteria for participation.”

CBS, too, has a debate planned on April 28. The announcement doesn’t include the candidates invited, but rather says, “Participants in the debate will be selected from the top candidates in recent polling.”

Orange County Register

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USC and ABC won’t change California governor debate format, reject accusations of bias

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