Former Congressman Katie Porter Faces Frustration in Interview

Katie Porter, a former congresswoman and candidate for governor in 2026, showed some visible frustration during a TV interview on Tuesday. It all started when a reporter’s question seemed to touch a nerve.

In a segment aired by CBS Sacramento, journalist Julie Watts questioned Porter about the implications of competing with Republicans in the upcoming election, particularly regarding the 6.1 million Californians who voted for Donald Trump. Porter indicated that she didn’t feel the need for support from those voters if endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

While discussing her close race in the Orange County Council District, Watts pressed her on the necessity of appealing to Trump supporters, which seemed to irritate Porter. She responded, “I feel this is unnecessary and controversial. What’s your question?”

Watts maintained that she posed similar inquiries to other candidates about Proposition 50, a district voting law supported by Newsom and other California Democrats during the November special election.

Porter stated her desire to garner as many votes as possible, but her patience appeared to wear thin with the follow-up queries. “I don’t want to continue doing this. I’ll go and call it,” she declared, expressing her discomfort with the line of questioning. “I want a comfortable, positive conversation… If every question leads to more follow-ups, we’re never going to get there.”

She later remarked, “I don’t want this all on camera.”

Porter, who won a congressional seat in 2018 and has a reputation for using whiteboards to clarify complex issues, campaigned for the Senate in 2024 and returned to the University of California, Irvine, for the Education Act.

Following the heated exchange, Porter’s campaign noted that the interview continued for an additional 20 minutes but did not provide further details.

The former congresswoman’s comments have drawn criticism from her Democratic rivals for the governor’s race, as well as from outside strategists. Elizabeth Ashford, a political strategist with no ties to the candidates, expressed concern over Porter’s stance. “When you’re governor, you’re the governor of everyone, not just your party. It’s problematic to suggest you don’t want or need votes from specific Californians, even those you oppose,” she said, referencing past leaders like Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Kamala Harris.

However, Ashford acknowledged that even strong candidates have off moments, adding, “This was a mistake for Katie, but not every interview goes smoothly.”