Multi-State Election Debates
Candidates clash in high-stakes gubernatorial and election debates across three key states.
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California gubernatorial candidates Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are set to hold a one-hour CNN debate, expected to be their only one-on-one meeting before the Nov. 3 election. Becerra leads 58% to 33% in a poll cited by the Los Angeles Times; the debate is expected to address affordability, housing, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s record and Hilton’s stance toward President Donald Trump. In South Dakota, Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden and Democratic challenger Dan Ahlers held an hourlong debate, discussing rural health care access, property-tax relief and whether the state needs a policy change; Rhoden also promoted a lower-cost plan for a new men’s prison and said his tax measures would cut homeowners’ payments by an average of 34%. Rhoden took office after Kristi Noem resigned in January 2025, and South Dakota has not elected a Democratic governor since 1974. Arizona Secretary of State candidates Adrian Fontes and Alexander Kolodin are also scheduled to debate, with election administration and voting rules central to their race.
Key Points
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The California debate is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Los Angeles, with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating; it will stream live for television-channel subscribers.
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Political science professor Melinda Jackson said the debate offers voters a rare unscripted chance to compare the candidates under pressure, noting that Joe Biden’s 2024 debate performance contributed to his withdrawal from the presidential race.
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In South Dakota, Dan Ahlers argued that only half of communities have reasonable access to birthing centers, using rural health care access to challenge the governor’s record.
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Arizona’s secretary of state oversees elections and state records. Incumbent Adrian Fontes has challenged Trump administration demands for voter-registration data and prevailed in federal court; challenger Alexander Kolodin has supported legislation restricting voting by mail, which accounts for roughly 80% of Arizona ballots.
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