Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter is trying to push a “reset” of her gubernatorial campaign after a disastrous week that began with… Video of a tense exchange with a journalist and then developed into a broader criticism of her temper when another video emerged.
Porter sat down for an exclusive interview with the Inside California Politics host Nikki Lorenzo On Tuesday, she expressed her regret.
“When I look at these videos, I want people to know that I understand that I could have handled things better,” Porter said. “I think I’m known as someone who can handle tough questions, who’s willing to answer questions, and I want people to know that I really appreciate the great work my employees can do.”
Porter’s readiness for California’s highest office was called into question after an excerpt of her interview with CBS correspondent Julie Watts in Sacramento emerged last Wednesday. In it, the Orange County Democrat rejected the idea that she needed to recruit Trump voters to win the governor’s race. Then, when pressed for her response, Porter threatened to walk out of the interview, calling the reporter’s questioning “unnecessarily argumentative.”
“I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call him,” Porter said, before eventually deciding to continue the interview.
Her opponents quickly pounced, both inside and outside her party. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, part of a crowded field of declared candidates for governor, produced a Three-minute campaign ad With the CBS interview ending with Villaraigosa saying, “We need leaders who solve hard problems and answer simple questions.”
Social media comments were also scathing.
Porter’s criticism amplified when a video surfaced from 2021 featuring him Porter shouted at an employee to “Get out of the f—ing shot” during a Zoom interview with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Porter said she later apologized to the employee.
“I’m going to keep trying to push myself to do better,” Porter-Lorenzo said. “That’s what I can promise.”
Porter said she understood the backlash from voters but insisted her defiance and passion were strengths, not flaws.
“I will focus on winning their votes and gaining their trust,” she said. “I take responsibility for this situation, and I will also not back down from fighting for California, from being tough. I don’t think this is the moment where the same old, same old, will be cut short.”
In September, an Emerson College poll commissioned by Inside California Politics found Porter leading the race for governor with 16% of the vote, followed by Republican political commentator Steve Helton with 10%, Riverside County Mayor Chad Bianco with 8%, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra with 5%.
No opinion polls have been announced since the unrest that occurred last week.
Porter, a Harvard Law School graduate who served in Congress from 2019 to 2025, also drew criticism for comments she made after failing to advance to the general election in an open U.S. Senate race last year. Special interests claimed They tried to “rig” the elections – a note for which she later apologized.
Despite criticism from within her own party and the Republican Party, Porter still has supporters. Although when Porter was specifically asked who, he couldn’t immediately remember.
Lorenzo: “Have you heard from any other Democrats? Have they reached out to you?”
porter: “Yes, of course.”
Lorenzo: “Who reached out to you?”
porter: “Well, I can’t tell you what’s on my mind, because I’ve been getting a lot of text messages…as you might expect.”
Lorenzo: “What did they say? Words of support? Can you give me anything specific?”
porter: “As I’ve seen publicly, many of the groups that support me, groups like the Teamsters, have said they’re proud to stand with me, because they know I’m going to fight for California, they know I’m going to be tough, and they believe what’s needed is the level of strength of character in this moment.”
In fact, both the Truckers Union and U.S. Rep. Dave Maine, who holds Porter’s former seat in Orange County, have expressed their support.
“At this critical moment in our country, we need not be polite and continue to go along with the establishment politicians that the opposition continues to trample,” said Peter Finn and Chris Griswold, co-chairs of Teamsters California. “We need strong leaders like Katie Porter who are willing to call it what it is and stand up and fight for everyday Californians.”
The race for governor remains fluid, with two heavyweights, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and billionaire developer Rick Caruso, yet to announce whether they will actually run. The deadline for advertising is March 6.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.