Sept. 8, 2025. On Monday afternoon, the usually quiet campus of California State University, Sacramento, turned into the epicenter of statewide politics. More than a dozen community groups, hundreds of students, and a slate of top candidates vying to become California’s next governor gathered for the 2025 California Education Governor’s Forum — a rare nonpartisan event that put education, leadership, and the state’s future under the same spotlight.

The forum, jointly hosted by Sacramento State and the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA), drew a standing-room-only crowd inside the university. Organizers stressed the event’s inclusive, nonpartisan nature: a civic space where Democrats, Republicans, and independents could lay out their visions before California voters.

Rivals Share the Same Stage

For nearly three hours, leading candidates from both major parties took the stage. On the Democratic side, speakers included Xavier Becerra, former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary; Katie Porter, congresswoman known for her fiery hearings on corporate accountability; Tony Thurmond, California’s state superintendent of public instruction; Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles; and Betty Yee, former state controller.

Republican candidates Steve Hilton, a political commentator and former adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron in the U.K., and Leo Zacky, a Central Valley business owner with agricultural roots, represented the GOP.

Each candidate was given eight minutes to address one major policy question before outlining their top priorities. With a year left before Election Day, the forum served as an early test of messaging, presence, and voter connection.

Candidates Put Education First

Although the program was billed as an education forum, the candidates used their time to weave in broader themes: housing affordability, homelessness, cost of living, and the resilience of California’s democracy.

Thurmond leaned on his experience as state superintendent, pledging to expand early childhood programs and address equity gaps in public schools. Porter called for lowering college tuition and argued that “the state must step up to ensure higher education remains a ladder of opportunity, not a burden of debt.”

Becerra drew a direct line between education and California’s economic engine: “If we want to stay the innovation capital of the world, then education reform is not optional — it is essential.” Villaraigosa stressed workforce development, promising to strengthen vocational and technical training “so students graduate ready to thrive in the job market.” Yee, known for her fiscal expertise, promised to prioritize education in the state budget: “We cannot balance our books by shortchanging our children.”

Republican voices struck a different tone. Hilton argued that California taxpayers deserved more accountability: “We have some of the highest spending per pupil, yet families are not seeing results. That has to change.” Zacky emphasized hands-on learning and community ties: “Education should prepare young people not just to pass tests but to contribute — whether that’s in agriculture, business, or public service.”

Students Take the Spotlight

Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood framed the day as “a unique opportunity to engage in a statewide conversation about education and leadership.” For many in the audience, especially students, it was a chance to interact directly with those seeking the governor’s office.

“I was shocked by the range of perspectives,” said Harris Liue, a small business owner attending his first gubernatorial forum. “I haven’t decided yet who I’ll vote for, but events like this help me see the bigger picture.”

Guiding the discussion was Julie Watts, a veteran anchor with CBS News Sacramento, who pressed candidates with pointed but balanced questions. The event was also co-hosted by Wenda Fong, a longtime CSU trustee leader, who reminded the audience that “today’s forum is not just about politics — it’s about the future we all want to build together.”

Powered by Young Organizers

Behind the scenes, much of the work was driven by a student-led steering committee composed of APAPA interns — high school and college students who designed the agenda, drafted questions, and coordinated media outreach.

Among them was Josh Luistro, a UCLA junior, who said the experience shaped his perspective on civic leadership. “We’re not just watching history; we’re helping make it. Our generation has to be in the room, shaping decisions from the community level to the Capitol.”

APAPA CEO Mary Yin Liu praised the interns’ efforts, noting that “they are not the leaders of tomorrow — they are the leaders of today.”

Coalition of Communities

The forum brought together representatives from more than 100 organizations, including the AANHPI Advocacy Alliance, African American civic groups, Latino organizations, and LGBTQ+ advocates. The broad coalition reflected California’s diversity — and the complexity of its political challenges.

A recent survey by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies highlighted voter priorities heading into 2026: 36% cited the cost of living as their top concern, 25% pointed to housing affordability, while 18% each flagged homelessness and the state of democracy. Those figures hovered over the discussion as candidates offered competing solutions.

A Surprise Guest: Sacramento Royalty

Adding a splash of sports stardom to the political proceedings, former NBA player and Sacramento Kings legend Mike Bibby attended the forum’s reception in his new role as head coach of Sacramento State’s men’s basketball team. Bibby, who led the University of Arizona to the 1997 NCAA championship and later enjoyed a 14-year NBA career, urged students to “carry a champion’s mindset into every part of life.” His appearance drew loud applause and camera flashes from fans and alumni alike.

APAPA’s Mission of Civic Engagement

Founded by longtime civic leaders CC Yin and Regina Yin, APAPA has spent more than two decades building pipelines for AAPI in public service. APAPA’s national chair Joe Johal described the forum as “a milestone in civic engagement — not just for candidates, but for communities that too often feel left out of the political conversation.”

CC Yin echoed that sentiment in his remarks: “The future of California will be written together. And education is the first chapter.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the forum wrapped up, applause filled the hall. Yet the conversations spilling out into the corridors and courtyards made clear that the event was not an end but a beginning. Students debated the merits of candidates, community leaders exchanged notes, and undecided voters weighed what they had heard.

With more than a year before voters head to the polls, Monday’s event underscored both the stakes and the opportunities in California’s gubernatorial race. For candidates, it was a chance to sharpen their platforms. For voters, it was a rare, unfiltered look at the people who may soon govern the most populous state in the nation.

And for the students of Sacramento State — and the APAPA interns who helped organize the event — it was proof that civic engagement is not a spectator sport.

“From our communities to the Capitol,” said one student organizer, “we’re not just part of the process — we are shaping it.” （USACNNEWS）