California’s gubernatorial debate ranked — and the candidate the ‘D-‘ moderators had it in for
The 2026 California gubernatorial debate at Pomona College featured eight candidates and substantive policy exchanges, with Republican Chad Bianco delivering a standout performance. Democrats like Katie Porter and Matt Mahan showed improvement, but none dominated the stage. The CBS moderators drew criticism for aggressive interventions and perceived bias, particularly toward Tom Steyer. Despite the crowded field and uneven performances, the candidates' direct engagement salvaged the event.
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Opinion California’s gubernatorial debate ranked — and the candidate the ‘D-‘ moderators had it in for By Joel Pollak Published April 28, 2026, 11:26 p.m. ET Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate at Pomona College was a good fight — and an enlightening one. This time, there were eight candidates onstage, which probably will not help Democrats consolidate their vote. It did, however, lead to substantive exchanges over policy. The most memorable candidate was Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. He was combative, but also knowledgeable on policy. None of the Democrats in particular stood out, though Katie Porter had her best performance yet. Matt Mahan also did well, especially towards the end. CBS News should be credited for holding a lively and successful event.
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