Founded by Alliance for a Better Community
California is one of the most diverse states in the nation, and Latinas/os make up nearly 40% of its population, and 30% of its eligible voters and a rapidly growing share of the electorate. Yet the upcoming gubernatorial debate hosted by ABC News and USC has failed to include Latina/o candidates on the debate stage. -despite the fact that the major candidates are polling higher than Matt Mahan, who was included.
Latina/o voters are a central force in California’s civic life and electoral future. Our communities help power the state’s economy, culture, and democracy. When a major political forum excludes candidates who reflect the diversity of California, it also sidelines the perspectives and priorities of the communities those candidates represent. As Alliance for a Better Community’s Latina/o Scorecard notes: “You can measure the health of a democracy by the level of civic participation. The more Latinas/os are engaged, the more leaders and public policy will reflect the interests of those who voice their concerns.” Excluding Latina/o voices from major political stages undermines both representation and engagement.
“Somos el Voto was created to increase Latina/o voter participation and build sustained civic power across Los Angeles County and beyond,” says Vanessa Aramayo, President of Somos el Voto. “Moments like this highlight why our work is so necessary. When Latina/o voices are absent from major political stages, it reinforces the very barriers that drive voter disengagement and erode trust in our civic institutions.”
Debates are not simply media events; they shape public perception of who is considered a serious candidate and whose voices are worthy of statewide attention. By excluding Latina/o candidates, debate organizers reinforce long-standing barriers to political representation and send a troubling message about whose leadership is valued in California politics. Media institutions and debate hosts have a responsibility to ensure their platforms reflect the electorate they serve, providing voters the opportunity to hear from the full range of candidates in a race as consequential as the governorship.
California’s democracy is strongest when all communities are seen, heard, and represented. We call on the candidates who qualified for this debate to refuse to participate in a debate that fails to reflect the diversity of the state they seek to lead. We also call on debate organizers and media partners to ensure debates and their programming reflect the full diversity of candidates and voters that make up California.
Latina/o voters are paying attention, and we expect the institutions that shape our democracy to reflect the California we live in.
