Nexstar's California TV stations will carry gubernatorial debate

Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times on Apr 13, 2026

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Nexstar Media Group will host a California gubernatorial candidate debate next week that will air across the company's TV stations in the state.

"Debate Night in California: The Race for Governor," will air April 22, from 7 p.m. Pacific, the company announced Monday. The event will originate from TV station KRON in San Francisco and be carried on KTLA in Los Angeles, KSWB in San Diego, KTXL in Sacramento, KGET in Bakersfield and KSEE in Fresno.

The debate will be moderated by Nikki Laurenzo, news anchor at KTXL and host of its public affairs program "Inside California Politics," and Frank Buckley, veteran morning news anchor at KTLA.

The debate will include candidates who have reached a minimum of 5% support in Nexstar's March statewide conducted in March. Those candidates — Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host Steve Hilton, former U.S. House member Katie Porter and philanthropist Tom Steyer — have all agreed to participate in the event.

The debate will also air nationally on Nexstar's cable news outlet NewsNation and be livestreamed over its political web site The Hill. The network will also provide coverage leading up to the event with anchors Chris Cuomo and Leland Vittert, whose show will air live from San Francisco. Katie Pavlich will host post-debate coverage.

CNN previously announced it will bring the gubernatorial candidates together for a debate in Los Angeles that will air May 5 on the network and its subscription streaming platform. The debate will be moderated by Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins.

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