California governor debate canceled after outrage over lack of diversity

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A planned California gubernatorial primary debate at the University of Southern California was scrapped after organizers faced backlash for inviting only White candidates.

USC and KABC-TV had extended invitations to a slate that included Republicans Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, alongside Democrats Rep Eric Swalwell, former Rep Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and billionaire Tom Steyer. The lineup, according to The New York Times, was determined using a formula that weighed polling numbers and campaign fundraising.

Excluded candidates cry foul

The decision quickly stirred complaints from those left out, particularly Democratic contenders who argued the process was anything but fair. Among the critics were former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former State Controller Betty Yee.

The pushback was anything but subtle.

“We ask each and every candidate who is in this race to recognize that if we can’t have a fair process for a debate, then we should all not participate,” Becerra said during a virtual news conference held March 20 despite polling in the low single digits. “We call on them to withdraw from this biased forum.”

Villaraigosa also voiced his frustration, having also struggled to break past 5% in polls.

“This was supposed to be based on polling and money raised. Some of us have been able to raise more money and are higher in the polls than a candidate who was invited,” he claimed during the same press conference.

USC backs formula, pulls plug anyway

Despite standing by its process, USC ultimately decided the controversy was becoming the story.

In a late Monday statement, the university said the “concerns about the selection criteria” had “created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.”

“Unfortunately, USC and KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates at tomorrow’s debate. As a result, USC has made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues,” the school said.

At the same time, USC insisted it “vigorously defends the independence, objectivity, and integrity" of the formula used to determine debate eligibility, adding that it was “based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support.”

Democrats fear splitting vote

The debate drama comes against growing concerns for California Democrats that a crowded field could backfire.

State party leaders have been quietly urging some candidates to step aside, pointing to polling that suggests Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton could snag the top two spots in the state’s all-party primary on June 2. That scenario would effectively shut Democrats out of the general election.

In an open letter published earlier this month, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks warned the packed field could risk “locking out” any Democrat from the November ballot. He called on candidates who “do not have a viable path” to drop out before April 15.

“All candidates must honestly assess their viable path to win, and I continue to call for them to do so,” Hicks said, referencing polling that showed Hilton and Bianco advancing.

Still, if a Democrat does manage to make it to the November runoff, history suggests they would have the upper hand. California hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006, and the state hasn’t backed a GOP presidential candidate since 1988.