Former Rep. Katie Porter, the 2026 gubernatorial candidate who has a slender edge within the polls, raised eyebrows Tuesday when footage emerged of her apparently ending a tv interview after changing into irritated by a reporter’s questions.
The footage exhibits CBS Sacramento reporter Julie Watts asking Porter, a Democrat, what she would say to the almost 6.1 million Californians who voted for President Trump in 2024, and the UC Irvine regulation professor responding that she didn’t want their help if she competed towards a Republican within the November 2026 run-off election to exchange termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
After Porter highlighted her expertise successful a intently divided Orange County congressional district, she grew palpably irritated by Watts’ follow-up questions on her dismissiveness about needing help from voters who supported Trump.
“I really feel like that is unnecessarily argumentative. What’s your query?” Porter stated.
Watts responded that she had requested each different candidate comparable questions in relation to Proposition 50, the redistricting poll measure that Newsom and different California Democrats placed on the poll in a particular election in November.
Porter stated she would search each vote she may win, however then grew testy over follow-up questions.
“I don’t need to hold doing this. I’m going to name it,” Porter stated, saying she objected to a number of follow-up questions. “I need to have a pleasing, constructive dialog. … And if each query you’re going to make up a follow-up query, then we’re by no means going to get there.”
She later stated, “I don’t need this all on digital camera.”
Porter, a protege of Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, gained election to Congress in 2018 and gained consideration for grilling executives and her use of a white board to elucidate advanced insurance policies. The 51-year-old unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 and returned to educating regulation at UC Irvine.
On Tuesday evening, Porter’s marketing campaign stated that the interview continued for a further 20 minutes after the heated alternate however didn’t supply additional remark.
The previous congresswoman’s Democratic rivals within the 2026 gubernatorial race seized on her feedback, and Democratic strategists not related to any candidate within the race additionally cringed.
“If you’re governor, you’re governor of everybody, not simply the folks in your get together. It’s a foul look to say you don’t need or want votes from sure Californians, even these you actually disagree with,” stated Elizabeth Ashford, who served as a strategist for Govs. Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger in addition to former Vice President Kamala Harris when she was the legal professional normal of California.
“However, additionally, even good candidates have dangerous nights,” Ashford added. “This was a miss for Katie, however not each interview goes to go nice.”
