California governor’s race: How to watch tonight’s televised debate

Seven of the 11 leading candidates for California governor will face off for a debate this evening in San Francisco before a live audience that will be televised in the state’s two largest media markets, the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Here’s what you need to know:

When and where is the debate?

The debate is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Pacific time Feb. 3 at the Ruth Williams Bay View Opera House in San Francisco.

Who’s in the debate?

Confirmed candidates participating in the debate are

• Matt Mahan, Democrat, San Jose mayor
• Tom Steyer, Democrat, investor and environmental advocate
• Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat, former Los Angeles mayor
• Steve Hilton, Republican, political advisor and commentator
• Tony Thurmond, California state superintendent of public instruction
• Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Attorney General
• Betty Yee, former California state controller

Who’s not participating?

• Eric Swalwell, Democrat and U.S. House Representative for California’s District 14 in the East Bay, had been expected to participate as recently as last weekend. Debate organizers said he had a scheduling conflict.
• Katie Porter, Democrat and former U.S. House Representative from Irvine who lost a 2024 bid for U.S. Senate to fellow Democrat Adam Schiff. Organizers said she had a scheduling conflict.
• Chad Bianco, Republican and Riverside County Sheriff. Organizers said he had a scheduling conflict.
• Ian Calderon, Democrat and former state Assembly member from San Gabriel Valley.

Who’s hosting the debate?

Bay Area television station KTVU FOX 2 will host the debate in partnership with KTTV FOX 11 television and the Black Action Alliance, an Oakland-based nonprofit that says it advocates for “social justice, equality, and concrete outcomes that improve the quality of life for the Black community.” Its interim chief executive officer is former Oakland City Council member and mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, a biomedical engineer.

According to KTVU, the debate will be aired across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, California’s two largest media markets. KTVU FOX 2 political reporter Greg Lee, anchor Andre Senior and KTTV FOX 11’s Marla Tellez will moderate the debate.

Other co-hosts include the the Black Freedom Fund, Black Leadership Council, Black Women Organized for Political Action, CalVoices, and the California African American Chamber of Commerce.

How to watch?

KTVU FOX 2 in San Francisco and KTTV FOX 11 in Los Angeles will air the debate live. It also will be streaming on the FOX LOCAL streaming app.

When is the election?

The California primary election is June 2, and voting by mail will begin in May. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will advance to the general election Nov. 3, regardless of party affiliation. That means the final contest could be between two Democrats, two Republicans, a Democrat and Republican or some other combination.