2026 Cities Gubernatorial Candidate Forum

This year’s City Leaders Summit will feature a special election‑year conversation with the candidates for governor. The Cal Cities 2026 Cities Gubernatorial Candidate Forum takes place Thursday, April 23, in Sacramento.

This onstage conversation gives city officials a unique opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about issues most important to cities, including housing and homelessness, public safety, climate and energy, affordability, and more. The moderator will also delve into leadership, values, and the person behind each candidate, offering a deeper understanding of their potential partnership with cities.

The discussion will be expertly moderated by Scott Shafer, Senior Politics Correspondent and co-host of KQED’s Political Breakdown

Cal Cities invited the top ten candidates for Governor based on publicly available polling. The following candidates accepted the invitation and are participating in the Cities Gubernatorial Forum. Please note, our Forum lineup is evolving as the race continues to shift.