LOS ANGELES (AP) — Katie Porter is fighting back.
After a disastrous week in which the former Democratic congresswoman was urged to end her campaign for governor of California, supporters are rallying around her and trying to fend off criticism of her temperament and readiness for the state’s top job.
On Wednesday, a clip from a recent television interview went viral showing progressive favorite Porter in an uncomfortably tense back-and-forth with a reporter – at one point threatening to leave the show. Shortly afterwards, a video emerged of an interview from 2021 in which she loudly insulted an employee.
After a round of condemnation from her Democratic rivals and a barrage of online ridicule, Porter showed no signs of stepping down as her campaign lined up supporters to support her weather the fallout.
“At this critical moment in our country, we don’t have to be polite and go along to get along, establishment politicians who are continually overwhelmed by the opposition,” said Peter Finn and Chris Griswold, co-chairs of Teamsters California, which endorsed Porter in September. “We need strong leaders like Katie Porter who are willing to call it what it is and stand up and fight for everyday Californians.”
Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United, said in a post on the social media platform X that Porter is “one of the toughest and most authentic leaders I have ever met.” Jessica Mackler, the president of EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights and endorsed Porter last month, said in a statement that Americans know Porter is “the bold leader California needs to take on (President) Donald Trump.”
An unexpected word of support came from Whoopi Goldberg, who said on “The View,” “Some people are obviously surprised by these videos. I’m not. We see these videos with… lots of different people.”
“People have bad days,” Goldberg added.
It remains to be seen whether, if at all, Porter suffers among voters — the primary isn’t until June and the general election is in November 2026. But the unflattering videos are sure to encourage other potential candidates to take a look at the wide-open, crowded race.
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“There are quite a few people who look at this area and say, ‘There has to be someone better,'” said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta. Potential candidates watch: “How far does Porter fall?”
“I think this whole thing is indicative of a race that won’t go down in flames,” he added.
Porter — who became a social media celebrity by brandishing a whiteboard at congressional hearings to dissect CEOs and break down complicated numbers into attacks on corporate greed — is probably the best-known candidate in a race bypassed by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Porter is known across the country for her impactful small-dollar fundraising.
The crowded field to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom includes former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former state Comptroller Betty Yee, all Democrats, and Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator, and Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County.
Testy exchange with reporter
A portion of Porter’s recent interview with CBS California reporter Julie Watts went viral. In the clip, Watts and Porter get into a heated back-and-forth discussion and at one point Porter says, “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’ll call it,” and claps his hands.
Porter’s campaign said the interview lasted another 20 minutes after the tense exchange subsided.
In response to the video obtained by the website Politico of her yelling at an employee, Porter issued a statement, saying, “I have tried to be more intentional about thanking my employees.”
Campaign spokesman Peter Opitz said in a statement: “Californians are hungry for a governor … who they trust can fight for them against Trump.”
“Katie will never shy away from saying ‘BS,'” Opitz said.
Statements of support for Porter sometimes implied that the videos illustrated a familiar aspect of her style – she is known for displaying a tough, if sometimes outspoken, personality.
“Katie Porter is a fighter,” Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Min, who holds Porter’s former seat in Orange County, said in a statement. “She would be a great governor.”
