At UC Riverside on Nov. 7, four of California’s 2026 gubernatorial candidates joined hundreds of community and health leaders for the Health Matters forum, a statewide conversation about what it will take to make health and opportunity real for every Californian.
Organized by 11 health-focused foundations, the forum explored how health is shaped by the full spectrum of our lives—from access to care and mental health to housing, caregiving, and the effects of climate change.
The candidates—Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee—spoke about how their experiences as children of immigrants shaped their paths and perspectives. Each reflected on the sacrifices their parents made to give them opportunities, and on the experience of caring for elders while supporting the next generation. They outlined their visions for expanding affordable, high-quality care; strengthening mental health services; improving support for family caregivers; and ensuring that housing and environmental policies promote stability, safety, and wellness for all Californians.
The Inland Empire was a fitting setting for this conversation. Home to some of the fastest-growing and most diverse communities in the state, the region reflects both California’s promise and its persistent disparities in health, wealth, and opportunity—making it the right place to talk about what it will take for every community to thrive. We appreciate the leadership of the Inland Empire Labor Institute and TruEvolution, who asked thoughtful questions of the candidates about California’s economy and mental health support in the I.E.
Those discussions underscored what community leaders already know: health equity isn’t a single issue—it’s the foundation for everything else. It’s about who gets care, who doesn’t, and who carries the burden when systems fall short.
The Health Matters forum wasn’t just a one-day conversation. It represented a new collaboration among eleven of California’s leading health-focused foundations—organizations committed to ensuring health equity is at the center of California’s next chapter.
We are deeply grateful to our philanthropic and media partners for their shared commitment to the well-being of all Californians: Archstone Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, Inland Empire Community Foundation, Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, LA84 Foundation, Metta Fund, Sierra Health Foundation, The California Endowment, The SCAN Foundation, CalMatters, The Inland Empire Journalism Hub, and NBC/Telemundo.
The Health Matters partners will continue to elevate community voices and ensure that health remains front and center in statewide policy debates leading up to the 2026 election.
As Cal Wellness President and CEO Richard Tate said in opening the forum: “All of us stand ready to work with our next governor so that every Californian can thrive — with health, hope, and opportunity.”