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Seven gubernatorial candidates have qualified to take the debate floor in the Los Angeles area Tuesday, May 5, just as mail-in ballots start to hit California voters’ mailboxes. 

The candidates who qualified to participate in CNN’s gubernatorial debate are Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, along with Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa.  

Here’s what to know about the governor's race ahead of Tuesday night’s debate. 

How California gubernatorial candidates are faring in the polls 

Becerra has seen a surge in the polls following Eric Swalwell’s departure from the governor’s race amid sexual assault allegations. Becerra went from polling in the single digits before the fallout in early April to being among the top gubernatorial candidates, holding between 19% and 24% of likely voters, according to an EMC Research poll and a Gudelunas Strategies poll. 

Meanwhile, Hilton captured between 19% and 23% in the two polls, consistently making him one of the top candidates. 

Bianco and Steyer have been polling similarly in recent weeks, each capturing between 13% and 16% of likely voters. Porter and Mahan follow; each hold between 6% and 10%. Villaraigosa trails with about 2% of likely voters. 

More voters, however, remain undecided (24%) than set on any one candidate, according to the EMC Research poll. 

In an interview last week, Thad Kousser — a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego, said the governor’s has “been puzzling in that really no one has emerged as the front-runner in either party.” 

“Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco remain pretty even, even after Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton. That didn't send him ahead,” Kousser said. "And on the Democratic side, even though there are many strong candidates who seem to be really well qualified and experienced, no one has pulled away from the pack yet.” 

In recent months, there has been a lot of focus on the state’s “jungle primary.”

Unlike primaries in other states, California has a top-two primary, a system that allows for the possibility of two candidates from the same party to face off in a general election.

“The narrative of the governor's race in 2026 has been the possibility that Democrats, even though they generally win in about 60% of the support in a November election, might be locked out of the top two because they have so many candidates, none of whom is really pulling away from the pack,” Kousser said.

What happened at previous gubernatorial debates? 

During the first debate, hosted by Nexstar on April 22, the stage was relatively calm. Candidates discussed an array of issues, including California’s gas tax, homelessness, and cost of living. 

A couple of Democratic candidates did throw a few jabs at Steyer in reference to his billionaire status.  

"We don't need a billionaire who made his money in private prison and oil and gas that he's now supposedly against," Mahan said. 

Meanwhile, the candidates’ discussions during a subsequent debate on April 28 hosted by CBS were “a bit of a mess,” as one Pomona College student described. 

As candidates discussed everything from healthcare to the Golden State’s home insurance crisis, candidates from both political parties consistently took jabs at one another.

Becerra at one point made a comment about “Steve Hilton’s daddy,” referring to Trump (and the former Fox News host). 

The candidates often exceeded the time limits and interrupted one another. 

As Porter discussed the state’s FAIR Plan insurance crisis, Bianco kept interjecting. 

"Excuse me, I'm speaking,” Porter told Bianco. 

What were the candidate qualifications for CNN debate? 

To qualify for the debate, candidates needed to meet several criteria, including having “at least 3% support among likely primary voters in two California gubernatorial polls or an average of 3% support in two California gubernatorial polls conducted by polling organizations whose methodology meets CNN’s standards for reporting," according to CNN. 

Candidates also had to have “raised, contributed, or loaned at least $1 million for this specific gubernatorial campaign,” the network said. 

What to know about gubernatorial candidates 

Here’s what to know about the candidates who qualified for Tuesday evening's debate.

Chad Bianco (R)

Bianco was elected as Riverside County Sheriff in 2018 and has served in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He is running for the governor’s seat on a platform that emphasizes public safety, law enforcement, and opposes current state policies. 

Bianco has said he is running for governor because he believes the state is at a breaking point, and he believes he can fix it. He positions himself as having the unique position of an outsider to the Sacramento political establishment. 

Steve Hilton (R)

Hilton is a former Fox News host and U.K. political strategist who is running for California governor on a platform focused on reducing taxes for workers and ending "the bureaucratic war on business." 

Hilton is running for California governor to "end the one-party rule" in the state, aiming to reverse state policies on energy, crime, and education, according to his campaign website. Hilton calls for restoring the California dream of a single-family home for every family. 

Xavier Becerra (D)

Becerra is an attorney who most recently served as the 25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and is running for California governor on a platform focused on building the state’s economy, defending its communities, and protecting rights and freedoms.

On his campaign website, Becerra says he is running for governor to “fight to make it possible for all of us to have the California Dream.” 

Matt Mahan (D)

Mahan is the current mayor of San Jose. He is running on a platform centered on making the state affordable for working families, bringing accountability in government, and “building a future that works for all Californians, not just those at the top.” 

He positions himself as “a fighter and a fixer,” who said he is running for governor to fix what he sees as government failures. 

Katie Porter (D)

Porter is a law professor and consumer protection attorney who served as a U.S. Representative from California from 2019 to 2025 and is running for California governor on a platform focused on lowering the cost of living, expanding economic opportunity, and holding corporate interests accountable.

She has said she is running for California governor to address the state’s “decades-long housing crisis” and rising costs of living. 

Tom Steyer (D)

Steyer is a billionaire investor and climate advocate, running on a platform focused on reducing the cost of living for Californians by taking on corporate interests, building affordable housing, and implementing green energy policies. 

Steyer has said he is running for governor in 2026, "because Californians can no longer afford to live here." He seeks to address the issue through tackling housing affordability, reducing energy costs, and pushing for corporate accountability. 

Antonio Villaraigosa (D)

Villaraigosa is the former mayor of Los Angeles and previously served as the California Assembly Speaker. He is running for governor on a platform of public safety, housing, and affordability. 

Villaraigosa has positioned himself as a “problem solver,” who says he is running for governor to “fix what’s broken, find new solutions, and only invest in what works.”  

When is 'The California Governor Primary Debate?'

CNN Anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins will serve as moderators for the two-hour debate, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday, May 5. 

The debate will stream for CNN’s streaming subscribers and pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps. Starting May 6, the debate will be available on demand to CNN’s streaming subscribers and pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps, and Cable Operator Platforms. 

Key dates for June primary

Some key dates for the June primary include:

• May 4: County elections officials will begin mailing each registered voter a vote‐by‐mail ballot.
• May 5: Ballot drop‐off locations open.
• May 18: Last day to register for the June primary
• May 23: Voting centers open for Voter's Choice Act counties for early in-person voting
• June 2: Primary election day: Polls from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

When is the governor's race?

Voters will choose the Golden State's next governor during California’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.