California Today: Crucial Debate Week for Gubernatorial Candidates

May 6, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Jill Cowan, a Los Angeles-based reporter for The Times who has covered California politics for seven years, writes about the governor’s race before a debate rematch tonight.

Seven candidates stand at blue-lit podiums on a CNN stage with a red and blue backdrop.

Seven candidates engaged in a spirited debate hosted by CNN at East Los Angeles College on Tuesday. Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times

Crucial Debate Week for Gubernatorial Candidates

	By Jill Cowan

If you’re registered to vote in California, you have likely gotten a ballot for the June 2 primary in the mail, which means there isn’t much time left until the election. And if you’re like many Californians, you still might not know whom you’re going to vote for in the race for governor.

Gov. Gavin Newsom can’t run again because of term limits. None of the top-polling Democrats running to replace him have emerged as a clear front-runner, which has left the Democratic Party without a standard-bearer in the nation’s most populous state. (Eric Swalwell, the former congressman from the Bay Area, had begun to pick up steam, but his political career imploded last month amid sexual assault allegations.)

And because the top two candidates will advance to November’s general election regardless of party, there has been unusual anxiety among Democratic leaders that two Republicans could scoop up a large enough share of votes to advance and freeze Democrats out of the general election.

This week is perhaps the last big opportunity for candidates to make a move. The highest-polling entrants squared off last night in their first nationally televised debate, hosted by CNN. And they have another debate scheduled tonight, hosted by NBC Los Angeles at 7 p.m. local time.

The New York Times will be livestreaming tonight’s rematch, and my colleagues and I will add context and analysis in a live chat.

As we reported last night, the attacks have become more personal and seem increasingly aimed at Xavier Becerra, the former California attorney general and Biden administration official, who has surged in polls after Mr. Swalwell’s exit.

The billionaire Tom Steyer, who has also gained momentum after Mr. Swalwell dropped out, talked about taxing polluters. Katie Porter, the progressive former congresswoman from Orange County, directly addressed concerns about her temperament. Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who has been endorsed by President Trump, made the case against single-party rule.

We expect to learn more tonight. As you consider your choice for California governor, join us for the livestream and analysis.

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