Katie Porter may have made her name with a whiteboard in congressional hearings, but this week she made headlines for something much less impressive — a bizarre meltdown during a routine interview that aired on CBS Sacramento affiliate KOVR-TV. The footage, released Monday and going viral by Tuesday, shows Porter unraveling over what should have been a softball question: does she need the votes of the 40 percent of Californians who supported President Trump?
The context here is important. Porter, a former Democrat congresswoman who lost a 2024 Senate bid, is now the leading candidate in California’s 2026 governor’s race — but only barely. With roughly 16 to 21 percent support in a very crowded field, she’s far from a sure thing. That makes every vote count, including votes from Republicans, independents, and swing voters. But when reporter Julie Watts posed that question, Porter couldn’t keep it together.
Instead of answering, she laughed mockingly at the idea of needing Trump voters. In the full version of the interview released Monday, Porter even threatened to walk out, complaining she didn’t want to have “an unhappy experience.” Watts, to her credit, stayed calm while Porter visibly raised her hands and became agitated like a bad actor in a high school drama class.
Let’s just say the whole thing was not a great look for someone pitching themselves as a future governor of the most populous state in the country.
Now, throw in the fact that Porter has a past and not a flattering one. Divorce records from 2013 show allegations from her ex-husband that she verbally abused him, smashed objects in the home, and once poured scalding mashed potatoes on his head during an argument. These are not ancient rumors; they’re documented claims in court filings. That might explain why her reaction to mild questioning looked more like an unhinged tantrum than media prep 101.
Ironically, the meltdown came just a day after Porter received the endorsement of Emily’s List, a major pro-abortion PAC. Timing is everything.
Despite her outburst, she finished the interview, but not before making it painfully clear that she views any voter who disagrees with her as beneath her. That attitude might fly in a left-wing Orange County district, but in a statewide race where Republicans, independents, and undecided voters make up the majority? Good luck.
California deserves better than a candidate who loses composure at the mere mention of Trump voters.
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