✨ Gubernatorial Candidate Forum ✨
Join the Democratic Women of Monterey County, Democratic Women's Club of Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County Democrats on Thursday, March 12, 2026 for a Gubernatorial debate with candidates Secratary Xavier Bacerra, Ian Calderon, Mayor Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee.
This evening offers a unique chance to hear directly from our Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates on important issues facing California, in the Tri-County area and beyond. Please note, seating is limited so secure your seat today – or amplify your impact as a supporter of this event!
Event Details
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Rd. Monterey, CA 93940
This event is your opportunity to:
✅ Hear directly from our California Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates in a debate moderated by Erica Padilla-Chavez, WILDR Co-Chair
✅ Gain perspective on important issues facing California
✅ Engage in meaningful conversations with the candidates in a Q&A following the debate
✅ Connect with community members committed to supporting healthy democracy
About the candidates:
Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former Attorney General of California, announced his candidacy for Governor of California. With over 35 years of experience delivering results as an executive and policymaker, Becerra is running to pull Californians out of a worsening affordability crisis and get our state back on track.
As Attorney General of California, Becerra led the charge to hold the first Trump administration accountable. He launched the landmark California v. Texas case, where he defended the Affordable Care Act (ACA) all the way to the Supreme Court and won. In all, he took the Trump administration to court over 120 times, winning high-profile cases protecting reproductive rights, millions in COPS funding, and DACA.
Ian Calderon is running for Governor to get families into homes, to stop big investors from outbidding first time homebuyers, and to end the onslaught of new laws that drive up the cost of building new housing.
Ian will bring a new generation of California leadership. The first millennial elected to the Legislature and the youngest Majority Leader in state history, Ian had every reason to stay in Sacramento. Five years ago, he walked away. Ian chose, instead, to raise his kids, build a business, and live in the same California the rest of us do.
And what he’s seen is a state that has stacked the deck against working families: gas prices through the roof, Wall Street is buying up entire neighborhoods, childcare costs crushing parents, and paychecks that can’t cover the cost of living.
Mayor Matt Mahan is running for Governor to make California work for all of us by holding our leaders accountable, putting toxic politics aside, and making sure government at every level is working smarter to solve our problems and uphold our values. He is running to unite Californians around the basic common-sense ideas that build a better future for every family.
Matt Mahan is the Democratic Mayor of San Jose who has dramatically lowered the level of street homelessness, made his city the safest big city in America, and successfully focused on attracting middle-class jobs.
He believes we can bring all Californians of good will together to address massive challenges like the cost of housing, energy, our budget deficit, homelessness and other pressing concerns. His overriding value is to put pragmatic and successful policies first so we can build a better California together.
Tom Steyer is running for Governor of California because Californians can no longer afford to live here. This state doesn’t work when a few people do unbelievably well, and everyone else does poorly – no matter how many billion-dollar companies we have, or how many new technologies we invent.
Almost 15 years ago, Tom walked away from the successful business he founded, and from billions of dollars, to devote his life to public service.
He was among the first to sign The Giving Pledge — a commitment to give away the vast majority of his money during his lifetime.
He led ballot proposition campaigns to defeat Big Oil on climate, closed a corporate tax loophole for out-of-state companies, and took on Big Tobacco to raise the cigarette tax. Steyer raised billions of dollars for California’s healthcare and public schools – without Californians having to pay a cent.
Antonio Villaraigosa is a proven problem solver. As leader of the California Assembly, Antonio worked with both parties to balance the state budget, with record investments in education and public safety, while holding the line on taxes and delivering a $13 billion budget surplus.
As Mayor, Antonio hired nearly 1,000 new police officers, invested in crime prevention and gang intervention strategies that became a federal model, spearheaded anti-domestic violence efforts, and took illegal guns off the streets – from his first year as mayor to his last year in office violent crime plummeted 48%, making Los Angeles one of the safest big cities in America.
Antonio turned around failing schools – increasing graduation rates by 60% and led the city’s economic recovery out of recession. His results led President Obama to say Antonio Villaraigosa was “one of the finest leaders” in America.
As our next Governor, Antonio will bring experience solving tough problems and getting big things done on issues that matter like making neighborhoods safe, improving schools, creating jobs, and bringing down costs for small businesses, middle-class families, and all Californians.
Betty Yee first demonstrated the power to lead when she was eight years old, overseeing the finances at her immigrant family’s dry cleaning business. She would go on to manage the finances for the government of the world’s fifth-largest economy as California’s State Controller.
Throughout nearly 40 years in public service, Betty has developed a unique reputation for competence, accountability, and a principled commitment to standing up for what’s right. Now, at a time when things feel so out of balance in our state, Betty Yee is ready to lead as our next Governor, to help make things add up for all of us in California.
✨Gubernatorial Candidate Forum Supporters’ Tiers✨
Courageous Benefactor - $10,000
In the electronic program, on the Supporter Poster, Photos with the candidates, Backstage VIP passes, Your Banner, mention during the program and 8 Reserved seatings.
Partner In Leadership - $5,000
In the electronic program, on the Supporter Poster, Photos with the candidates, Backstage VIP passes, and 4 Reserved seatings.
Advocate For Change - $2,000
In the electronic program, on the Supporter Poster, Photos with the candidates, and 2 Reserved seatings.
Supporter - $1,000
In the electronic program, on the Supporter Poster, and 1 Ticket to the event.