Katie Porter, candidate for California governor, is facing backlash after footage surfaced of the Democrat threatening to leave an interview held weeks ago after growing frustrated by follow-up questions from a journalist.
Newsweek reached out to Porter’s campaign via email Tuesday night for comment.
Why It Matters
Porter has garnered both national attention and controversy throughout her political career, primarily for her direct style during congressional hearings and advocacy on issues such as corporate accountability.
The newly released video interview emerges at a critical juncture in Porter’s gubernatorial campaign, as she seeks to consolidate support in a highly competitive primary field.
What To Know
In an interview with CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts, candidates for governor were asked about redistricting in the state and Proposition 50.
Prop 50 is a redistricting measure that would shift congressional maps in a bid to pick up more Democratic House seats in the state, an effort led by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in response to similar efforts by Texas Republicans.
Porter was asked, “What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for [President Donald] Trump?”
“How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded, then laughed. She continued, saying that in a general election race against a Republican, she believes that she would receive all non-Trump votes. “I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before,” Porter said.
Watts then responded, “But you just said you don’t need those Trump voters.” Porter, seemingly perturbed, put her hands up and said the interview was becoming “unnecessarily argumentative.”
Watts said she asked every other candidate a similar line of questions or follow-ups about needing the 40 percent of voters who backed Trump.
“I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it,” Porter said, adding she won’t do an interview with “seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.” She also added that she has never had to “end an interview” before.
The tense on-air exchange sparked a wave of reaction online, in clips that have since gone viral. Watts also reacted to the online chatter: “So … looks like 3min of this 30 min segment has gone viral. I hope you’ll want the full segment,” she wrote on X.
What People Are Saying
Journalist and podcaster Megyn Kelly, on X Tuesday: “Are there other terrible interviews with Katie Porter? This is the most entertaining, unifying thing since tiger king!”
Self-described Republican communicator Matt Whitlock, on X Tuesday: “This Katie Porter crashout is INCREDIBLE. Easy to imagine her pouring boiling mashed potatoes on her husband’s head.”
Chamath Palihapitiya, venture capitalist and entrepreneur, on X Tuesday, reacting to a clip of the interview: “Katie Porter would like to run the fifth largest economy in the world.”
Republican U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert of California, on X Tuesday: “Katie Porter just had a meltdown when asked what she’d say to GOP voters. Her tirade is a window into the mentality of radical CA Democrat politicians. They can’t stand those who disagree with them. They’re trying to silence their opponents with Prop 50. They even condone violent rhetoric targeting Republicans. We have to speak up. We have to vote NO on Prop 50. We have to take our state back from these extremists.”
Marisol Samayoa, former spokesperson for the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senator Adam Schiff of California, on X Tuesday: “The question was what Katie Porter’s message is to the 40% of Californians who voted for Trump. Instead, her answer became a case study on what not to do in a press interview — and how not to dismiss voters when running for statewide office (again)”
Journalist Medhi Hasan, on X Tuesday: “‘I want to have a pleasant positive conversation’ A car crash interview for Katie Porter. But also a reminder of why our media is broken. Politicians got use to the idea that interviews should be ‘pleasant positive conversations’. NO! They should be challenging & discomforting.”
What Happens Next
The scrutiny of Porter’s media appearances could shape voter perception as the gubernatorial campaign accelerates. Porter’s campaign has recently received crucial support from EMILY’s List, a prominent Democratic organization that backs women running for office who support abortion rights.
