POMONA - Eight gubernatorial candidates took the stage Tuesday evening at Pomona College in what was billed as the “largest” debate so far this election.

The Democratic candidates included former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

For the Republicans, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco were in attendance.

The Los Angeles Times observed that almost immediately clear to the candidates, and something they started objecting to less than half an hour into the event, was that the moderators were intent on bouncing around, asking candidates different questions and giving them different amounts of time to respond.

The candidates promptly began speaking over one another.

Bianco repeatedly tried to set himself apart from the others and at one point felt he wasn’t being given ample time for his responses.

The debate was staged at Pomona College and was the second of three scheduled debates before the June 2nd primary.

Next up is CNN’s California gubernatorial primary debate on May 5th.

Bianco and Steve Hilton, along with Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Antonio Villaraigosa, are eligible to take part in the debate. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Elex Michaelson will moderate.

California’s nonpartisan primary is set for June 2. The top two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the general election.

CNN observed that Democrats are worried that the long list of Democratic candidates could split the vote on the left, making room for one or both major Republicans to make the November ballot.

The race was scrambled after Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations

Story Date: April 29, 2026