Two More Democrats Qualify for California Debate Stage After Swalwell Exits
April 16, 2026
By Daniel TrottaApril 16 (Reuters) - Two more Democrats, former California attorney general and cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose...
The lineup for a key debate in California’s gubernatorial primary has been revised, with two more Democratic candidates now set to take the stage. Organizers announced Thursday that former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan have met the polling requirements to participate. Their qualification follows the sudden exit of Representative Eric Swalwell from the race, an event that has significantly reshaped the wide-open contest to succeed the term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. Becerra and Mahan will now join fellow Democrats Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, in the televised debate scheduled for next week in San Francisco.
The opportunity for Becerra and Mahan arose directly from Swalwell’s departure. Swalwell, who had previously met the debate criteria, suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress earlier this week amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. In the wake of his exit, debate organizer Nexstar Media Group commissioned a new poll to reassess the field. The results showed Becerra, who also formerly served as California's attorney general, with 10% support, a significant jump from 3% in March. Mahan, the mayor of California's third-largest city, secured his spot by meeting the 5% polling threshold.
The inclusion of Becerra and Mahan adds a new dynamic to the upcoming debate and the primary race. The addition of Becerra, who is Latino, brings a non-white candidate to the stage, a noteworthy development after a previously scheduled debate was canceled in March following criticism over the lack of racial diversity among the then-qualified candidates. Becerra appears to be the most immediate beneficiary of Swalwell's exit, capturing a significant portion of the support that was previously behind the former congressman. The new polling shows a crowded and competitive field, with former Fox News host Steve Hilton leading at 17%, followed by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and billionaire Tom Steyer tied at 14%.
This volatile period comes just weeks before mail-in ballots are sent to voters for the June 2 primary. California operates under a "jungle primary" system, where all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top two finishers advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. This has fueled concern among Democrats that their large field of candidates could split the vote, potentially allowing the two prominent Republicans, Hilton and Bianco, to advance, shutting Democrats out of the general election in a state they have long dominated.
With the debate stage now set, the six candidates will have a crucial opportunity to make their case to a large audience of voters, a significant portion of whom remain undecided. Recent polling indicates that 23% of likely primary voters have not yet chosen a candidate. As the primary enters its final weeks, the focus will intensify on the remaining candidates as they vie for endorsements and the support of undecided Californians. The upcoming debate will be a critical forum for shaping public opinion ahead of the closely watched primary election.
Source: usnews