Things had been looking promising for Katie Porter in her quest to become the next governor of California. Back in July, Kamala Harris announced she would not be running in the upcoming governor's race, providing an opportunity for lesser-known candidates to step into the spotlight. As a former congresswoman renowned for her incisive questioning in Congress, Ms. Porter has emerged as the leading Democratic contender in a crowded field seeking to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom when he leaves office.
However, on a recent Tuesday, Ms. Porter captured headlines for all the wrong reasons when a video of her contentious exchange with a local television journalist went viral. The three-minute clip quickly became a talking point within political circles. During the interview, she dismissively rebuffed a query about her need to appeal to Republican voters and threatened to walk out after becoming frustrated with follow-up questions.
This incident did not go unnoticed by her rivals from both parties, who quickly seized the opportunity to critique Ms. Porter. Fellow Democratic candidates accused her of believing she had already secured the nomination, claiming she “can’t answer basic questions” and stating that the governor's race is “no place for temper tantrums.” One opponent even called for her to withdraw from the race altogether.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly labeled the interview “the most entertaining, unifying thing since Tiger King!” By Wednesday afternoon, the viral clip, originally posted by an Axios reporter, had garnered over two million views on X, overshadowing what the original segment might have attracted. The controversy began when Julie Watts, a CBS News reporter in Sacramento, asked Ms. Porter about Gov. Newsom’s controversial plan to gerrymander congressional districts to help Democrats gain House seats, especially against former President Donald Trump.
Ms. Porter expressed her support for the measure but was then confronted with a pointed question regarding the “40 percent of California voters” she would need to win, many of whom voted for Trump. “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” she retorted, leaning forward and dismissively laughing. The back-and-forth escalated as Ms. Porter insisted that Ms. Watts was being unnecessarily argumentative, eventually leading to her desire to end the interview over the persistent follow-up questions.
This incident can be viewed as a self-inflicted wound for a candidate known for holding others accountable. Throughout her career, Ms. Porter has gone viral for her sharp questioning of corporate executives, often putting them on the defensive. Her campaign spokesperson, Nathan Click, noted that Ms. Porter did continue to answer questions for another 20 minutes following the viral exchange. A spokesperson from CBS confirmed that she completed the full interview.
The situation worsened for Ms. Porter when a video from 2021 resurfaced, showcasing her yelling at a staff member during an interview. After the clip emerged, she issued a statement reflecting on her high standards for herself and her team, particularly during her tenure as a member of Congress. “I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work,” she stated.
The 2026 California governor’s race has thus far been characterized by a lack of significant developments. For several months, the primary question was whether Kamala Harris would enter the race following her loss in the presidential election. Two prominent Democrats, Eleni Kounalakis and Toni Atkins, have exited the race after struggling with low polling numbers.
With limited candidates gaining traction, supporters of Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, have begun to encourage him to consider running. “I am weighing it,” Mr. Padilla recently shared with The New York Times during a podcast interview.
In the wake of Ms. Porter’s blunder, her opponents are keen to capitalize. Betty Yee, a former state controller, has publicly urged Ms. Porter to exit the race. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa even released a three-minute television ad that prominently features Ms. Porter’s exchange with Ms. Watts. The Villaraigosa campaign announced that the ad would begin airing on Sacramento television stations, emphasizing a need for leaders capable of tackling complex issues and answering straightforward questions.
As the race unfolds, the dynamics continue to shift, setting the stage for a highly competitive and unpredictable contest for the future of California's governorship.
