Updated April 22, 2026
CBS News California Investigates has unveiled an interactive California Governor’s Race Candidate Guide to help voters compare contenders in the crowded 2026 gubernatorial contest. The digital tool compiles more than 20 hours of in-depth interviews with top-polling candidates, presenting their extended answers and follow-up responses side-by-side on major issues.
Built over six months by the CBS News California Investigates team, the guide lets users select specific candidates and view uncut, issue-by-issue responses drawn from interviews conducted by correspondent Julie Watts. The series examines more than a dozen topics identified by viewers, community leaders and policymakers, including homelessness; housing affordability; gas prices and environmental policy; immigration and health care for undocumented immigrants; crime and public safety funding; and California’s insurance crisis.
The guide’s launch comes as the governor’s race heats up and ahead of an April 28 debate hosted by CBS-owned California stations in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) and Pomona College. The debate is expected to feature Democrats Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa, and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. Democratic candidate Katie Porter was invited but had not formally accepted at the time of the guide’s launch.
Designed to complement the traditional debate format, the tool offers longer, uncut responses that give voters a clearer view of candidates’ policy positions and how they handle follow-up questioning. CBS News California plans to use the guide during the debate broadcast, with anchors directing viewers to CBSNews.com/CAgov so audiences can pair the live event with on-demand, deeper exploration online.
The interview project began in 2025 after Watts moderated an APAPA educational gubernatorial forum. Over the course of the series she interviewed 15 candidates; eight of those have active campaigns and are expected to appear on the ballot, and those eight were invited to the April 28 debate.