Four out of the ten candidates for California governor for the 2026 governor election shared their plans to tackle health inequities, housing costs, and climate challenges on Friday during a statewide forum hosted at the University of California, Riverside.

The Health Matters Forum, organized by the California Wellness Foundation and ten partner organizations, brought together former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former State Controller Betty T. Yee.

Moderated by NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams and Black Voice News publisher Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, the event focused on how California’s next governor could ensure that health and opportunity reach every community, particularly in regions like the Inland Empire.

“This region represents California’s future, diverse, innovative, and ready to lead,” Brown-Hinds said in her opening remarks.

Expanding Access to Health Care:

Each candidate shared their approach to strengthening California’s health care system, with a focus on affordability, access, and mental health.

Becerra, who served as the nation’s top health official under President Joe Biden, said his experience leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would guide his vision for California. 

“We’re going to deliver health care for all Californians,” he said. “This is about fairness and making sure people can afford to live healthy lives.”

Thurmond spoke about his personal connection to the issue, recalling how a family member died after losing health insurance. 

“Health care is a right, not a privilege,” he said.

Thurmond said his administration would expand Medi-Cal, create more mental health scholarships, and fund free college for students entering health professions.

Yee called for stronger oversight and accountability in how California enforces its mental health parity laws, and enforcing insurance companies to treat behavioral health care the same as physical health. 

“We need to make sure our systems are transparent and that people can actually access the care they are promised,” she said.

Villaraigosa said increasing reimbursement rates for mental health professionals and reducing barriers for those seeking care. 

“We can’t talk about equity if people can’t find or afford a therapist when they need one,” he said.

Tackling Housing and Homelessness:

The state’s housing affordability crisis was frequently discussed, with all four candidates linking it to public health, economic stability, and family well-being.

Thurmond said he will support a $10 billion affordable housing bond to build 2 million units by 2030.

He also said he will call for using surplus public lands, including school properties, for new housing projects. 

“The American dream is slipping away,” he said. “We need to help working families afford to live in the communities they serve.”

Villaraigosa, who oversaw major housing and infrastructure projects as mayor of Los Angeles, said California must cut through bureaucratic delays that slow construction. 

“We can’t build what we need if it takes years to get a project approved,” he said.

Yee proposed a permanent funding source for affordable housing and improving coordination between state and local agencies. 

“We have to treat housing as part of a continuum, from homelessness to homeownership,” she said.

Becerra said that during his time as attorney general, he saw firsthand how bureaucratic inefficiency blocked progress. 

“We have to make sure every dollar counts,” he said. “As governor, I’ll work to ensure no additional Californians become homeless.”

Building the Mental Health Workforce:

The candidates discussed the shortage of mental health providers, particularly in the Inland Empire, which faces one of the lowest provider-to-patient ratios in the state.

Thurmond said he would fund scholarships and loan forgiveness programs to recruit more behavioral health professionals from underrepresented communities. 

“Mental health is the issue of our time,” he said. “We need professionals who look like the communities they serve.”

Becerra said his work at the federal level includes launching the 988 suicide and crisis hotline and expanding 24/7 community behavioral health clinics. 

“These are the kinds of investments that save lives,” he said.

Yee and Villaraigosa both said improving pay and workplace support for mental health workers, calling the issue critical to both patient care and workforce retention.

Addressing Climate and Environmental Health:

When addressing how they would confront climate change, candidates directly linked it to public health, especially in the Inland Empire, where residents face high air pollution levels due to warehouse expansion and trucking corridors.

Villaraigosa pointed to his record leading Los Angeles to transition its bus fleet to clean energy and reduce emissions. 

“When I was mayor, we made L.A. number one in cutting carbon emissions,” he said. “But we need to invest in the grid and infrastructure to make clean energy accessible statewide.”

 Yee said climate action must include strengthening public health systems and local resilience.

“If we don’t act, climate change will crowd out everything else in our state budget,” she said.

Thurmond proposed expanding renewable energy jobs and closing idle oil wells in working-class communities. 

“You deserve a job, but not a job that’s going to kill you,” he said.

Becerra said climate and housing must be treated as interconnected priorities. 

“We can build more homes and protect our planet at the same time,” he said. “We just need coordinated leadership.”

Working with Washington:

Candidates were asked how they would approach the federal government on issues, from immigration to environmental policy.

Becerra, who represented California in multiple lawsuits against federal agencies during his time as attorney general, said he would continue to defend California’s interests while collaborating on shared goals. 

“We must work with Washington because we need to get our money back,” he said. “No one sends more to the federal treasury than California taxpayers.”

Thurmond said he has already challenged harmful federal policies, including efforts that threatened immigrant families and students. 

“We sued this administration to stop them from taking money from migrant education and after-school programs,” he said. “ICE has no place in our schools or hospitals.”

Villaraigosa said he supports cooperation with Washington but “will push back wherever we have to,” referencing his long record of advocacy for immigrant and working-class communities. 

“I grew up tough,” he said. “We’ll work with them, but we’ll fight when needed.”

Yee said collaboration will be essential, particularly on cross-border environmental issues such as the Tijuana River pollution crisis. 

“We will work with like-minded governors to make sure our values are heard,” she said.

Closing Messages and Vision:

In their closing remarks, each candidate reflected on what distinguishes their leadership style.

Yee said her administration would focus on fiscal accountability and ensuring public dollars are spent effectively. 

“Every Californian deserves to see that their money is working for them,” she said.

Becerra pointed to his track record running large agencies and defending California’s values on the national stage. 

“I’m ready to get to work on day one,” he said.

Thurmond spoke about his upbringing in poverty and his belief that experience and empathy must go hand in hand. 

“We need a governor who understands struggle,” he said. “Someone who believes every Californian deserves dignity, opportunity, and health care as a right.”

Villaraigosa closed by mentioning his experience leading Los Angeles through economic and environmental challenges. 

“There’s only one person here who’s been mayor of the largest city in the state,” he said. “I’ve done this kind of job before.”

As the forum ended, organizers said the conversation reflected what’s at stake for the state’s future.

“California’s future depends on how we choose to care for one another,” Tate said. “Because health matters and to every one of us.”

From left to right, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee during the Health Matters Forum on Friday at the University of California, Riverside. The event focused on health equity, housing and the state’s future ahead of the 2026 election.