Fresno State Challenges Swalwell to Join April 1 Gubernatorial Debate

Rep. Eric Swalwell championed inclusive debate rules for the USC gubernatorial forum while simultaneously declining an invitation to Fresno State's own April 1 debate, and the contradiction drew an immediate public rebuke from the event's lead organizer.

Swalwell was calling on USC to allow certain candidates to participate in its gubernatorial debate, yet he was not participating in the Fresno debate that includes some of those same candidates. Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia bristled at Swalwell on X after the congressman posted Sunday demanding that more candidates be allowed into the USC debate. Puglia responded by asking Swalwell to be the seventh candidate to commit to the forum. "Good point," Puglia wrote. "Perhaps you can resolve the conflict cited for declining to participate in the April 1 candidate forum at Fresno State. 30 farm groups sponsoring the only debate focused on rural CA, affordability and farm sustainability."

The Maddy Institute is hosting the gubernatorial candidate forum at Fresno State on April 1 in partnership with Western Growers and dozens of other agricultural groups. The forum will focus on affordability and rural California and include Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Matt Mahan, former Rep. Katie Porter, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton. The forum will start at noon on April 1 and run through 1:30 p.m., with each candidate receiving two minutes for opening statements, an hour of moderator-led questions, and two minutes for closing statements. It will be held at the Ruiz Event Space at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union at Fresno State. Candidates who polled at 3% in a RealClearPolitics poll as of March 1 made the invitation cut.

Two others were also invited: Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Livermore, and billionaire Tom Steyer. Swalwell declined, citing a schedule conflict, organizers said. Steyer's campaign stated, "Unfortunately, Tom has a scheduling conflict that day and will not be able to attend the forum. He plans to come to Fresno to host a town hall sometime in the near future," but did not specify the nature of the conflict.

The backstory to the Fresno debate began with chaos in Los Angeles. USC canceled its planned gubernatorial debate Monday night, less than 24 hours before the event, after much criticism over the formula used to determine participants. USC canceled its debate after backlash over excluding several candidates of color. All six of the candidates USC and KABC invited were white. Those excluded most notably were Becerra, Villaraigosa, Thurmond and Yee, none of whom is white.

Swalwell posted on X demanding that more candidates be allowed into the USC debate. "Debates are a fundamental part of our democratic process. The people of California deserve the opportunity to hear from candidates directly about key issues at such a critical time for our state and country. It is a shame that USC has decided to elevate one candidate at the expense of others. USC, and every host of a gubernatorial debate, should employ fair, objective, and honest criteria for all candidates," Swalwell wrote. Puglia's public challenge made clear that those words cut both ways when Fresno's debate had a seat waiting.

Blake Zante, executive director of The Maddy Institute, said: "As the nonpartisan public policy institute for the Central Valley, we are proud to co-host this bipartisan forum with candidates seeking California's highest office. The Central Valley plays a vital role in shaping California's future, and forums like this help ensure our region's voices, priorities, and next generation of leaders are part of" the statewide conversation. The public is invited but must register.