- 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
Maher Criticizes California Gubernatorial Candidates Invited to Debate
The host says the diverse group of candidates are 'different types of people I don't want'
Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:09am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
On his HBO show 'Real Time,' host Bill Maher criticized the six California gubernatorial candidates who were invited to participate in a debate, saying they are 'different types of people I don't want.' The candidates include Republicans Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Democrats Tom Steyer, Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
Why it matters
Maher's comments reflect the ongoing debate around diversity and representation in California politics, as the state's population is majority-minority but the top candidates are all white. The cancellation of the debate due to concerns over the lack of racial diversity has sparked further discussion about the role of identity in elections.
The details
During his 'New Rules' segment, Maher said the debate was canceled 'because some people were outraged that the top six candidates were all white, even though this is what the people voted for, and the people are 62% minority.' He added that 'just because the top six candidates are all white, it doesn't mean there's no diversity. I see all different types of people I don't want.'
- The comments were made on the March 28, 2026 episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher'.
The players
Bill Maher
The host of HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' a political talk show.
Steve Hilton
A Republican candidate for California governor.
Chad Bianco
The Riverside County Sheriff and a Republican candidate for California governor.
Tom Steyer
A Democratic candidate for California governor.
Eric Swalwell
A Democratic U.S. Representative and candidate for California governor.
Katie Porter
A former Democratic U.S. Representative and candidate for California governor.
Matt Mahan
The Democratic mayor of San Jose and a candidate for California governor.
What they’re saying
“'New Rule: Woke ain't dead. Here in California this week they canceled the governor's debate because some people were outraged that the top six candidates were all white, even though this is what the people voted for, and the people are 62% minority. If their opinion was Xavier Becerra is f*cking awesome, we'd know.'”
— Bill Maher, Host, 'Real Time with Bill Maher'
“'And, for the record, just because the top six candidates are all white, it doesn't mean there's no diversity. I see all different types of people I don't want.'”
— Bill Maher, Host, 'Real Time with Bill Maher'
The takeaway
Maher's comments highlight the ongoing debate around diversity and representation in California politics, as the state's majority-minority population is not fully reflected in the top gubernatorial candidates. The cancellation of the debate due to concerns over racial diversity has sparked further discussion about the role of identity in elections.
