- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
USC and ABC7 Face Backlash Over Gubernatorial Debate Lineup
Exclusion of all candidates of color sparks criticism ahead of high-profile event
Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:39am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a top Democratic candidate for California governor, has criticized USC and the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles for hosting a debate that he argues purposely excludes all candidates of color from participating.
Why it matters
The upcoming gubernatorial debate is a high-profile event that will shape the election narrative, and the exclusion of diverse voices has raised concerns about fairness and representation in the political process.
The details
Becerra, who is Latino, accused the debate organizers of intentionally shutting out candidates of color from the event. He argued that the decision undermines the democratic process and deprives voters of hearing from a range of perspectives on the key issues facing the state.
- The debate is scheduled to take place on March 25, 2026.
The players
Xavier Becerra
A former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and a top Democratic candidate for California governor.
USC
The University of Southern California, which is hosting the upcoming gubernatorial debate.
ABC7
The ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, which is co-hosting the upcoming gubernatorial debate.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
The takeaway
The exclusion of candidates of color from the upcoming gubernatorial debate has raised concerns about fairness and representation in the political process, underscoring the need for more inclusive and diverse debates that reflect the full range of perspectives in the electorate.
