Outbursts by Katie Porter threaten gubernatorial ambitions

Former Rep. Katie Porter’s gubernatorial prospects are uncertain after two videos emerged that underscore long-swirling rumors that the Irvine Democrat is thin-skinned and a hotheaded boss.

How Porter responds in the coming days could determine his ability to survive the race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom next year, according to political strategists, both Democratic and Republican.

“Everybody’s had a bad day. Everybody’s done something they don’t want to see aired, right? You don’t want your worst boss moment, your worst work moment, your worst personal moment caught on camera,” said Christine Pelosi, a prominent Democratic activist in the Bay Area and the daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“I think it’s definitely a question of what happens next,” said Pelosi, who supported former Gov. Eleni Kounalakis before dropping out of the race.

Porter, who is narrowly leading the polls as the 2026 candidate for governor, came under scrutiny this week after a recording emerged of him threatening to end a television interview harshly after becoming increasingly irritated by the reporter’s questions.

After CBS reporter Julie Watts asked Porter. The UC Irvine law professor told the nearly 6.1 million Californians who voted for President Trump in 2024 that he doesn’t need their support if he runs against a Republican in the November 2026 runoff elections.

After Watts asked follow-up questions, Porter accused Watts of being “unnecessarily argumentative,” raising his hands toward the reporter’s face and later saying, “I don’t want any of this to happen on camera.”

The next day, a 2021 video surfaced of Porter berating an employee who corrected him about electric vehicle information he discussed with a member of the Biden administration. “Get out of the shot!” Porter said after the young woman appeared in the background of the video conference: Porter’s comments in the video were: First reported by Politico.

Porter did not respond to multiple interview requests. In a statement about the 2021 video, he said: “It’s no secret that I hold myself and my staff to a high standard, and that’s been especially true as a member of Congress. I’ve tried to be more intentional about showing my gratitude to my staff for their important work.”

Many Porter supporters voiced their support for him after the videos went viral on social media and became the focus of national news as well as shows like “The View.”

“At this critical moment in our country, we don’t need to be polite, get along, have establishment politicians crushed by the opposition,” wrote Peter Finn and Chris Griswold, co-presidents of Teamsters California, which supports Porter and represents 250,000 workers in the state. “We need strong leaders like Katie Porter who are willing to tell it like it is and stand up and fight for ordinary Californians.”

Emily’s List, which supports Democratic women who support abortion rights, and Rep. Dave Min (D-Irvine), who won the congressional seat Porter left to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate last year, are among those who have issued statements supporting the embattled Democratic candidate.

Lorena Gonzalez, president of the influential California Labor Federation, addressed growing rumors at the state Capitol before videos emerged that powerful Democrats and corporate interests disliked Porter and were trying to persuade another Democrat to run.

“The one thing that is clear after the past few days is that Katie Porter’s willingness to take on powerful interests is very intimidating and motivating for the status quo,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

There was a concerted effort to encourage Senator Alex Padilla to run. The San Fernando Valley Democrat said he won’t decide on Proposition 50, the redistricting proposal he and other state Democratic leaders support on the November ballot, until voters decide.

A key indicator of Porter’s plans is whether he will attend two events he plans to attend next week: a virtual forum with the California Working Families Party on Tuesday evening and a live UC Student and Policy Center Q&A in Sacramento on Friday.

Democratic gubernatorial rivals in California’s 2026 governor’s race have seized the videos. Former state comptroller Betty Yee called on Porter to drop out of the race, and wealthy businessman Stephen Cloobeck and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attacked him in ads about the unrest.

Former Sen. Barbara Boxer said she saw the same traits (anger, lack of respect, privilege) that Porter had displayed in the videos before, especially in the 2024 Senate race, and that’s why she decided to support then-Rep. In the end, Adam Schiff won the race. Boxer endorsed Villaraigosa’s candidacy for governor.

“I have a bad taste in my mouth from this experience,” Boxer said sadly, describing his reaction to the video of Porter cursing at his employee. “This video tells us everything we need to know about former Congressman Porter. He is unfit to serve. Period.”

He said disagreements arose during Boxer’s more than four decades in elected office and among his staff.

But “there was always respect, even when we weren’t happy with each other, because I knew they deserved it and I knew I was nothing without them,” Boxer said, adding that the behavior of men and women as elected officials should be viewed through the same lens. “We are equal; we are not better. He is proof of that.”

Beth Miller, a Sacramento-based veteran GOP strategist who has worked with female politicians since the 1980s, said women are held to a different standard by voters, but that has eased in recent years.

“In some ways it plays into that bias, but in other ways it unfortunately leaves women behind because it highlights a concern that people have,” Miller said. “And that’s really disappointing and discouraging for a lot of female politicians who are not ascribed to this type of behavior.”

Miller also noted the dichotomy of his brief response in the television interview to Porter’s defense of himself as a fearless and aggressive interrogator in Congress against CEOs and government leaders.

“On the one hand, you exhibit one type of behavior, and on the other hand, when it affects you, you exhibit another behavior,” Miller said. “And, you know, the governor of California is no walk in the park, and so I don’t think he’s doing himself any favors. And I think that’s really a window into who he is.”