Meet the Candidates for the Statewide Gubernatorial Debate on February 3 to Challenge Candidates on Equity, Economic Power, and California’s Future

The Black Action Alliance Partners with KTVU FOX 2, KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles, and FOX LOCAL for Live Broadcast. Save the date and RSVP here - https://luma.com/ur58nz6v

As California approaches one of the most consequential gubernatorial elections in recent history, the Black Action Alliance (BAA) will host a statewide gubernatorial debate on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in partnership with exclusive broadcast partners KTVU FOX 2 Bay Area, KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles, and FOX LOCAL.  

The debate will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PST at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House in San Francisco and will be broadcast live across Northern and Southern California, with statewide streaming available on FOX LOCAL.

“California is too big, too complex, and too unequal for surface-level politics,” said Loren Taylor, Interim CEO of the Black Action Alliance. “This debate is about going deeper on the issues that matter most. It’s about readiness—whether candidates truly understand the communities that keep this state running and whether they have the courage and competence to govern in a moment that demands both.” 

With the June primary approaching, this debate offers Californians a critical opportunity to hear directly from the leading candidates in a crowded field seeking to guide the future of nearly 40 million residents and the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Confirmed Candidates:

• Antonio Villaraigosa

• Betty Yee

• Eric Swalwell

• Steve Hilton

• Tom Steyer

• Tony Thurmond

"We are proud to partner with the Black Action Alliance to present this Gubernatorial debate. We remain committed to providing voters with as many forums as possible to make informed decisions for their community's leaders at every level,” said Amber Eikel, SVP Regional GM overseeing the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. 

As a 501(c)(4) organization, BAA is committed to elevating a wide range of Black voices across the Bay Area. For this debate, BAA is partnering with community organizations including The Black Freedom Fund, California African American Chamber of Commerce, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), The Black Leadership Council, and the Bay Area Sigmas. Their participation underscores the debate’s grounding in lived experience and community leadership.

Moderators

• Andre Senior, KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco

• Greg Lee, KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco

• Marla Tellez, KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles

California’s next governor will confront overlapping crises: a persistent affordability gap, workforce disruption driven by automation and artificial intelligence, climate-related displacement, and enduring racial and regional inequities. The BAA Gubernatorial Debate places these realities at the center of the conversation, framing them not as peripheral concerns, but as defining challenges of governance.

This debate is part of Black Action Alliance’s broader mission to elevate civic participation, strengthen accountability, and ensure that those seeking power are prepared to wield it responsibly.