As a live broadcast, the 2026 gubernatorial debate at Bridges Auditorium required specific camera shots and sightlines—and multiple installations of equipment with significant physical space needs—limiting the number of available seats.
We made as many seats available for the Pomona community as possible. Pomona College students, faculty and staff who didn’t receive a ticket for the debate in Bridges were able to attend a watch party at Frary Dining Hall, which was open for regular dining service the evening of the debate.
Debate at Bridges Auditorium
The ticketing application window for faculty, staff and students closed on April 8. For both Pomona students and employees, the number of applications exceeded our ticket allocation, so attendees were selected via random draw.
Frary Dining Hall Watch Party
Because seating is limited inside Bridges Auditorium, ASPC offered parallel and additional programming inside Frary Dining Hall alongside Pomona’s student chapter of the League of Women Voters. The programming began with a live debate watch party, followed by a post-debate discussion. CBS News California had a correspondent at Frary throughout the evening’s events.
Community members from across The Claremont Colleges were welcome to attend the watch party and subsequent discussion.
Other Ways to Watch
- The stream was available worldwide on the CBS website or on CBS' Youtube Channel.
- On Monday, April 27, the day before the event, the college sent all alumni an email with an unlisted link that allowed watching and engaging with the debate together in a special, Sagehen-only experience.
- The College's Bay Area Regional Chapter hosted a watch party.