A California gubernatorial primary debate will be held on May 5 in Los Angeles, offering voters a high-profile forum to hear directly from candidates in one of the nation’s most closely watched races. The two-hour debate, beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific time, will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and CNN’s subscription streaming service, with anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins moderating.
Participation Criteria
To qualify, candidates must meet two key thresholds: at least 3% support in two state polls or an average of 3% across two polls released between February 1 and April 27, and at least $1 million raised, contributed, or lent to their campaigns, based on publicly available data from the California secretary of state.
California’s ‘Jungle Primary’ System
Under California’s unique primary system, all candidates—regardless of party affiliation—appear on the same ballot. The top two finishers advance to the November runoff, even if they are from the same party. Two Republicans, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, are currently leading in polls, according to a recent survey by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies.
Venue and Accessibility
The debate will take place at an undisclosed venue in the Los Angeles area. While the event will be broadcast widely, viewers without cable can access it via CNN’s streaming service, ensuring broad accessibility.