Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra criticized the University of Southern California (USC) and ABC7 Los Angeles for excluding candidates of color from an upcoming gubernatorial debate scheduled for March 24. Becerra characterized the decision as unfair and likened it to discriminatory practices of the past.
Debate Criteria Under Scrutiny
The debate, cosponsored by ABC7 Los Angeles and Univision, will include six candidates. USC stated that its Center for the Political Future authorized a political expert, Dr. Christian Grose, to independently establish the methodology for candidate inclusion. The criteria considered opinion polling and campaign fundraising.
However, discrepancies emerged regarding the fundraising criteria. While initially stated to be based on semi-annual reports filed with the California Secretary of State, USC later clarified that the criteria also included large donations reported immediately to the state. This distinction is significant because San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a participant in the debate, entered the race late and had not yet filed a semi-annual report, but has received substantial donations.
Mahan himself agreed with Becerra’s assessment, stating that all candidates should have the opportunity to participate in public forums. USC officials are now reissuing the criteria to emphasize the inclusion of both semi-annual and immediate donation reports, maintaining that the top six candidates remain unchanged.
Broader Concerns of Representation
This controversy follows accusations from Democratic candidates of color that state party leaders are attempting to favor white candidates with stronger polling numbers. In addition to Becerra, former state Controller Betty Yee, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also condemned the candidate selection process.
Becerra asserted that despite USC’s attempts to justify the selection process, the outcome demonstrates a clear bias, resulting in the exclusion of all candidates of color while including Mahan, who Becerra claims has not consistently polled as highly.
Veteran GOP strategist Mike Murphy, co-director of the USC Center for the Political Future, is assisting an independent expenditure committee supporting Mahan. Murphy stated he has recused himself from the debate process and would request unpaid abandon from the university if he becomes a paid advisor to the committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is participating in the March 24 debate?
The six candidates scheduled to participate are Republicans Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton, and Democrats Northern California Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire hedge-fund founder Tom Steyer, and San José Mayor Matt Mahan.
What was Xavier Becerra’s specific objection to the debate selection process?
Becerra objected to the exclusion of all candidates of color from the debate, stating that it “smells of election rigging” and drawing a comparison to historical discriminatory practices.
What explanation did USC provide for its candidate selection criteria?
USC stated that the Center for the Political Future authorized Dr. Christian Grose to independently establish the methodology, based on opinion polling and campaign fundraising. They later clarified that the fundraising criteria included both semi-annual reports and immediate donation reports.
As the June primary approaches, will the controversy surrounding the debate impact voter perceptions and campaign strategies?
