One year before Californians head to the polls to decide who will be their governor, some of the gubernatorial candidates will gather in November to participate in a nonpartisan forum, focusing on key health care-related issues affecting the Inland Empire.
As the region that includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties has 1.5 million people who rely on Medi-Cal, over 40% of the population, federal decisions to cut health care funding will have a direct impact on them.
The “Health Matters” forum, set for Nov. 7, 2025 at 1 p.m. will address key issues like health care affordability, access to mental health services, housing costs and environment.
Medical workers like those at Sac Health, a community clinic in San Bernardino, see first hand what it is like for people to live without health care coverage.
“When you are healthy, you take health for granted. It’s when you are sick, you go, ‘Where can I go?’” said Dr. Bonnie Chi-Lum, chief medical officer of Sac Health.
As more than half of California reported skipping or delaying medical care because of cost in 2023, Chi-Lum said a number of factors, including language and transportation, can also affect people’s decision to seek care.
Sac Health is one of about 300 groups that will get the chance to address health concerns during the event as the candidates will hear from the community and propose their solutions.
Several candidates, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have already confirmed their participation for the Nov. 7 live event that NBC4 and Telemundo 52 will be airing on our websites, mobile apps, YouTube Channels and streaming channels.
The upcoming race has already a crowded field of candidates. After former Vice President Kamala Harris’ decided to bypass the 2026 contest, at least 10 people declared their candidacy.
The primary election is set for June 2, 2026, and the general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.