California Gubernatorial Candidates Engage with AANHPI Voters

Five Democratic candidates address key issues at Los Angeles forum

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:39pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary political figure standing in a government office, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood.The AANHPI community's priorities took center stage as California's gubernatorial candidates courted this key voting bloc in Los Angeles.Los Angeles Today

Five Democratic candidates for California governor - Tom Steyer, Betty Yee, Anthony Villaraigosa, Tony Thurmond, and Xavier Becerra - participated in a forum hosted by Asian American and Pacific Islander community organizations in Los Angeles' Koreatown. The candidates answered questions on topics ranging from the economy and affordability to voting rights and immigration, highlighting their plans to address the concerns of AANHPI Californians.

Why it matters

The AANHPI community is a key voting bloc in California, and engaging with these voters on the issues that matter most to them will be crucial for the Democratic candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial election. The forum provided an opportunity for the candidates to directly address the community's priorities and demonstrate their commitment to representing the diverse needs of all Californians.

The details

The Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC) and the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) organized the event, compiling nine questions on pressing issues facing the state based on a survey of 40 civic partner organizations. Candidates were given 90 seconds to respond to each question, speaking in a randomized order. Topics included the economy, affordability, wage theft, housing, and healthcare.

  • The forum took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles' Koreatown.
  • The California gubernatorial primary election is scheduled for June 2026.

The players

Tom Steyer

A billionaire businessman and philanthropist who has not previously held elected office, Steyer has built his gubernatorial campaign around economic reform, targeting corporate monopolies and the affordability pressures facing California renters and ratepayers.

Xavier Becerra

Becerra served as California's attorney general from 2017 to 2021, when he was appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. He drew on his record of addressing worker protections and the state's affordability crisis.

Betty Yee

Yee served as California's state controller from 2015 to 2023, overseeing the state's finances and payroll systems. She argued that California has failed to adequately enforce its own labor laws, leaving wage theft largely unchecked.

Tony Thurmond

Thurmond has served as California's superintendent of public instruction since 2019. He drew on his personal experience as a former low-income worker to frame his economic platform and contrast himself with the current federal administration.

Anthony Villaraigosa

Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013, overseeing a period of significant downtown housing growth. He pointed to that record as proof he could deliver on housing production as governor.

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What they’re saying

“I would have rent be deductible the way mortgage interest would be deductible. I am for taking away the electric monopoly power. I am for single-payer healthcare.”

— Tom Steyer

“When I was attorney general, I created a worker's rights bureau. In my first 120 days, I will declare a state of emergency for rising utility rates.”

— Xavier Becerra

“The reason that employers get by with this is because they know the state of California is not looking. And by the time legal measures are pursued, the wages are long gone.”

— Betty Yee

“While Trump is off giving his billionaire friends their tax credits, I'm going to do the opposite — give relief to all Californians for the rising cost of gas and groceries.”

— Tony Thurmond

“If you want to address the housing crisis, you have to build more. When I was mayor, downtown Los Angeles had 20,000 units. By the time I left, it was 60,000.”

— Anthony Villaraigosa

What’s next

The California gubernatorial primary election is scheduled for June 2026, and the general election will follow in November. The candidates' performances at the AANHPI forum will likely shape their outreach and messaging to this key voting bloc in the months leading up to the primary.

The takeaway

The AANHPI community's priorities, including economic affordability, worker protections, and housing, were front and center at this forum. The Democratic candidates demonstrated their understanding of these issues and their commitment to addressing them, underscoring the importance of engaging with diverse communities across California.