California's top candidates for governor are set to square off in a statewide debate on April 22, airing live in prime time from San Francisco. The one-hour program, scheduled for 7 PM PT, will give voters an early look at how the hopefuls say they plan to tackle housing, public safety, and the state's rising cost of living. With polls showing a crowded field and a large undecided bloc, the debate could significantly shift momentum ahead of the June primary.
Debate details and broadcast
Nexstar says the one-hour telecast will air live at 7 PM PT on April 22, originating from KRON4's broadcast studios in San Francisco and going out to partner stations across the state, according to KRON4. The station reports the program will be moderated by Nikki Laurenzo and Frank Buckley and will stream on Nexstar’s digital platforms. A Spanish-language translation will also be available for viewers, the announcement says.
Who qualifies for the stage
Getting onto the stage depends on polling. Candidates must be at or above 5 percent in the Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey to qualify for the telecast. According to Emerson College Polling, the Feb. 13–14 survey currently lists Eric Swalwell, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, and Katie Porter as meeting that threshold. Those numbers highlight how a single strong debate showing could vault a contender into serious contention.
Why the April debate matters
A standout performance on April 22 could reshape how donors and endorsers look at the race, especially with the top of the field clustered and roughly a fifth of voters still undecided. Because California uses a top-two “jungle” primary, the stakes are even higher: two candidates from the same party could move on to November. Moderators are expected to press the hopefuls on housing affordability, public safety and utility costs, the issues Emerson polling found voters rank highest.
Who is on stage, and who is not
KRON4 reports that all eligible candidates except Katie Porter have accepted Nexstar’s invitation, which would put Swalwell, Hilton, Bianco and Steyer on the stage. The station says partner broadcasts will include outlets in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno and Bakersfield, and that excerpts may be carried by national platforms. Viewers who cannot watch on broadcast TV will be able to stream the debate through participating station sites and Nexstar's digital platforms, KRON4 adds.
How to watch
The telecast will be carried by KRON4 and partner stations, including KTLA in Los Angeles, FOX5/KUSI in San Diego, FOX40 in Sacramento, KSEE/CBS47 in Fresno, and KGET in Bakersfield, and is expected to reach millions of households across the state. Participating stations will also offer pre- and post-debate coverage, along with local fact-checking and interviews. Voters are encouraged to check local listings and station websites for streaming links and Spanish-language options.
Whatever happens on April 22, the debate is set to give Californians a direct comparison of how the leading candidates say they would address the state's most pressing problems before the June primary. We will monitor the exchanges and the fallout across local newsrooms as the race heads into the late spring.
