Former Democratic California Representative Katie Porter is taking center stage in the race for governor of California.
If her campaign succeeds, one might wonder how she’d govern. Would it mirror her emotional control? Well, recent events raise some questions about that.
Porter reacted quite strongly when CBS News Sacramento reporter Julie Watts posed a simple question regarding voter sentiment and preferences about Trump.
“We asked 40% of California voters what they needed to win, and who voted. [President Donald] Trump?” Watts asked.
Porter’s response? “How do we need them to win?” It seemed to reflect a degree of frustration, as if she was grappling with the idea of needing Republican votes.
Katie Porter, a leading Democrat for California governor, becomes an incredible Karen after a journalist has the audacity to ask a basic follow-up question when she scoffs at the idea of needing to win over Trump supporters. pic.twitter.com/csfuzrrzpf
– Kevin Dalton (@thekevindalton) October 7, 2025
Porter questioned whether the conversation was unnecessary. “What is your question?” she asked, sounding defensive.
Watts clarified, stating her question was about empowering voters to curb Trump’s influence, linking it to the redistricting actions taken by California Democrats. She mentioned that other candidates had handled this question without issue.
Porter replied, “And I said, I support it.” However, when Watts continued with follow-ups, Porter seemed overwhelmed.
“No, I say I try to vote as much as I can.” Frustrated, Porter ended the interview abruptly, saying, “I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m calling it, thank you.”
“So, you’re not going to answer questions from reporters?” Watts pressed.
Porter’s irritation escalated, and she dismissed the notion of a standard interview format. “You ask me about every question on this list. And if you’re going to ask follow-up questions, we’re never going to get there.”
Clearly taken aback, Watts responded, “I’ve never had to do this before.” Porter insisted she was running for governor because she believes in leadership.
This didn’t inspire the confidence one might hope for. Porter’s irritation during the interview seemed to tip a scale, raising questions about her leadership style.
In a 2023 appearance on Real Time with Bill Murgan, Porter voiced strong opposition to Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and advocate for gendered sports. When asked to elaborate on this disagreement, Porter seemed to struggle with her stance.
Yeah pic.twitter.com/lytzzb8zk0
– Danila (@D_Shawstein) October 8, 2025
“I think it should be an athletic body,” she stated, yet when pressed further about her disagreement with Gaines, she gave a rather vague response, suggesting that Gaines was simply seeking attention.
In another instance, Porter shared personal anecdotes that raised eyebrows. She recounted a conversation with her daughter about the implications of Trump winning in 2024.
Katie Porter may not be California or insane.
“She said, ‘Trump is going to win. What if she gets raped and needs an abortion?'” – Katie Porter confirmed that she had pumped up unnecessary psychological trauma on her 12-year-old daughter. https://t.co/9hf8i8vzsq– Kevin Dalton (@thekevindalton) October 8, 2025
“She said, ‘Mom, Trump won, and what if I got raped and needed an abortion?’” This kind of exchange, while provocative, definitely raises questions about how she communicates with her children.
In another moment, Porter spoke with climate activist Greta Samberg, sharing that her daughter expressed severe anxiety about climate change, claiming, “The earth is on fire, and we’re all going to die soon.”
Katie Porter is an absolute nutjob. pic.twitter.com/ymfuumdrbm
– righteous® Crusader (@craftmastah) October 8, 2025
Regardless of whether her stories hold truth, sharing them could reflect poorly on her judgment, making her seem less like a stable mother figure.
Porter’s marital history isn’t without controversy. She filed for divorce from her ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman, in 2013, with reports indicating it was contentious. Court records show they both sought anger management therapy.
Hoffman recounted that Porter had a volatile reaction over trivial matters like mashed potatoes and Jell-O, leading to troubling allegations that she had physically harmed him.
Despite the allegations, which Porter denies, they have cast a shadow over her public persona.
“I think they actually reinforce each other. So the fact that things like inflation are going to happen and it can become more expensive to feed your kids and fuel your cars is why people need…”
The overlap between political issues and personal anecdotes raises questions about her effectiveness as a potential governor. What do you think?
