Los Angeles mayoral debate rules are now set, with candidates needing polling thresholds to qualify, shaping voter access and visibility ahead of the 2026 primary election.
Candidates for the Los Angeles mayoralty now have a date and a set of rules for the first debate, scheduled to take place on May 6.
To qualify for the debate stage, a candidate must have reached or exceeded five percent (5%) support in at least two reliable polls that meet NBC News’ editorial standards, no later than May 1, 2026. The polls must have been conducted in 2026.
A polling organization’s surveys are deemed reliable based on their methodology, accuracy in past results, and level of transparency. The polling firm responsible for the qualifying surveys must also be non-partisan, or the survey must have been conducted on behalf of a non-partisan organization.
Based on these criteria—and according to the various polls released so far—the three leading candidates would qualify without issue: Karen Bass, Nithya Raman, and Spencer Pratt.
Information regarding the gubernatorial debate was also released.
Telemundo 52 and NBC4 will broadcast the Los Angeles mayoral debate, as well as the statewide debate for the California governorship.
Telemundo 52 / KVEA and NBC4 / KNBC will televise two live debates—one hour each—featuring the leading candidates in the polls for the California gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primary elections. These debates will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The debates will air consecutively, beginning with the Los Angeles mayoral debate at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, followed by the statewide broadcast of the California gubernatorial debate at 7 p.m. Pacific Time. As part of the stations’ commitment to keeping Southern California audiences informed, the debates will be presented without commercial interruption, in both English and Spanish. The gubernatorial debate will be broadcast simultaneously statewide via Telemundo 48 Bay Area/KSTS, Telemundo 33 Sacramento/KSCO, Telemundo 51 Fresno/KNSO, Telemundo 20 San Diego/KUAN, NBC Bay Area/KNTV, and NBC 7 San Diego/KNSD. It will also air on NBC affiliate stations KCRA in Sacramento and KSBW in Monterey.
Noticiero Telemundo 52 anchor Enrique Chiabra, NBC4 News anchor Colleen Williams, and NBC4 political reporter Conan Nolan will moderate the debates, covering a wide range of critical issues affecting the diverse state of California, the city of Los Angeles, and the region.
“With voters facing multiple decisions during the midterm election cycle, it is crucial that they have clear and direct access to the candidates and key issues,” said Todd Mokhtari, President and General Manager of NBC4 and Telemundo 52. “By presenting the debates consecutively and in two languages, we aim to provide voters in the region with key access and information ahead of the June primary elections.”
The debates will be held in partnership with Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and the Skirball Cultural Center, which will also serve as the venue for both debates.
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