Loyola Marymount University partnered with KNBC and Telemundo to present the final debate between candidates to represent California in the U.S. Senate. LMU’s involvement included an on-campus watch party hosted by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, and expert commentary following the broadcast.
When Republican Steve Garvey and Democrats Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter took the stage on Feb. 22, 2024, working behind the scenes was the Marketing, Communications, and External Relations team of Marianna Villa, vice president of External Relations and Partnerships, Director Marissa Koller, Senior Administrative Coordinator Gabrielle Poma, and students Sarah Hutter ’25 and Rylee Davis ’27.
NBC4 News Anchor, Colleen Williams, NBC4 Chief Political Reporter Conan Nolan and Noticiero Telemundo 52 News Anchor Alejandra Ortíz moderated the debate, which covered important issues including the cost of living, immigration, military spending and foreign policy, and artificial intelligence. An LMU student had the opportunity to directly ask the candidates a question during the debate, and several students attending the watch party in Von der Ahe were interviewed live on camera about their reactions, igniting dialogue and promoting civic engagement among and within colleges and universities. View the full debate here.
Representing LMU as a contributor, Fernando J. Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o studies and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, also known as StudyLA, dissected the candidates’ various answers and weighed their chances for being elected.
As part of the broadcast and before the debate began, John Flaherty led the LMU Consort Singers in the “Star-Spangled Banner” in Sacred Heart Chapel.
