2026 Lt. Governor Candidate Forum

On April 27, 2026, the Pat Brown Institute co-hosted the Lieutenant Governor Candidate Forum at Cal State LA, bringing together students, higher education leaders, and community members for a thoughtful conversation about the future of public higher education in California. The event featured candidates Oliver Ma and Michael Tubbs, who engaged in meaningful dialogue and shared insights into their leadership, priorities, and vision for the role. We are grateful to Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Pat Brown Institute Executive Director Mike Bonin for their opening remarks, and especially to the students who shared their personal experiences and questions—bringing urgency, honesty, and real-world perspective to the discussion. We also thank our partners in the Alliance for Candidate Engagement in Education—Campaign for College Opportunity, EdTrust-West, Californians Together, Children Now, Early Edge California, Public Advocates, and Young Invincibles—as well as Unite-LA, UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute, SoCal CAN, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and Alliance for a Better Community for their collaboration in making this event possible. Events like this underscore the importance of civic engagement and the power of bringing Californians together to help shape the leadership and decisions that impact our communities.