Join KQED for a series of timely town hall events ahead of the 2026 California governor’s race primary, featuring one of the top four polling primary candidates, who were invited for intimate onstage conversations.
Note on Participation Criteria: Due to limited event production capacity, KQED is not able to host every candidate running for governor for an in-person town hall event. KQED established objective selection criteria in advance to limit the number of candidates invited to participate.
KQED notified invited the top four candidates leading in recent independent public polls in March, specifically those from Emerson College Polling and Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. The four candidates who received invitations consistently led in the average of the polls and in each poll individually; they included Steve Hilton, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Tom Steyer. Candidate Steve Hilton declined the invitation.
Join KQED for a series of timely town hall events ahead of the 2026 California governor’s race primary, featuring one of the top four polling primary candidates, who were invited for intimate onstage conversations.
Note on Participation Criteria: Due to limited event production capacity, KQED is not able to host every candidate running for governor for an in-person town hall event. KQED established objective selection criteria in advance to limit the number of candidates invited to participate.
KQED notified invited the top four candidates leading in recent independent public polls in March, specifically those from Emerson College Polling and Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. The four candidates who received invitations consistently led in the average of the polls and in each poll individually; they included Steve Hilton, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Tom Steyer. Candidate Steve Hilton declined the invitation.
