Voters Can Hear from Office Seekers at Candidate Forums

Upcoming forums at San Joaquin Delta College will allow the public to question local and state candidates ahead of the June primary elections.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:08am

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone political candidate standing in an empty auditorium, the space bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, creating a pensive, reflective mood.As voters prepare to make their voices heard at the ballot box, these candidate forums offer a rare moment of quiet contemplation before the campaign trail heats up.Stockton Today

With the primary elections scheduled for June 2, candidates will field questions from the public at a series of candidate forums at San Joaquin Delta College's Mabalon Forum. The forums were organized by the San Joaquin County Civic Alliance, a group of community organizations dedicated to civic engagement and voter education across San Joaquin County.

Why it matters

These candidate forums provide an important opportunity for voters to directly engage with and question the individuals seeking to represent them in local and state government. By hearing the candidates' positions on key issues, voters can make more informed decisions at the ballot box.

The details

The forums will take place on April 18 and April 23, with candidates from Stockton City Council, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, and California State Assembly participating. While some forums did not have the required two candidates to proceed, the majority will go forward as planned. Panelists from local educational institutions and media groups will moderate the discussions.

  • The first forums are today, April 18.
  • The final events will take place on Thursday, April 23.

The players

San Joaquin County Civic Alliance

A group of community organizations dedicated to civic engagement and voter education across San Joaquin County.

Betty Wilson

Executive director of the Business Council of San Joaquin County.

Delta College's political science department

One of the organizations involved in helping draft questions and host the forums.

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What they’re saying

“Elections are very important and understanding the issues and hearing where the candidates stand on those issues is critical in making informed choices.”

— Betty Wilson, Executive director of the Business Council of San Joaquin County

What’s next

The candidate forums will continue as scheduled, with the final events taking place on Thursday, April 23. Voters in San Joaquin County will then have the opportunity to cast their ballots in the June 2 primary elections.

The takeaway

These candidate forums provide a valuable platform for voters to directly engage with and question the individuals seeking to represent them in local and state government. By attending these forums, voters can make more informed decisions that align with their values and priorities.