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By Robert Birsel
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A new video has emerged of Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate for California governor, rudely rebuking a staff member who moved into a video shot, just a day after she triggered a barrage of criticism over another video clip that showed her threatening to walk off on an interview with CBS.
Newsweek reached out to Porter's campaign via email on Wednesday night for comment.
Why It Matters
California will elect its next governor in 2026 when Gavin Newsom, who has served in the role since 2019, will see his term end. The state uses a jungle primary system, where all candidates, regardless of political party, run on a single ballot for the primary. The two candidates with the most support advance to the general election.
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The country’s most populous state is reliably Democratic and has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger served between 2003 and 2011. Any signs that Porter, who is running for the governorship after an unsuccessful Senate bid last year, is seeing a decline in support, will worry Democrats.
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What To Know
Former U.S. House representative Porter has attracted both national attention and controversy throughout her political career, mainly for her direct style during congressional hearings and advocacy on issues such as corporate accountability.
The new video, obtained by Politico, which said it was dated July 2021, shows Porter talking to then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a video call about electric vehicles when a member of her staff moves into the background.
“Get out of my f****** shot,” Porter told the unidentified woman employee.
The woman says she wanted to point out an error Porter had just given in her talk.
Porter responds: “You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot.”
“Is this a disaster? Yes,” Gale Kaufman, a veteran Democratic strategist, told Politico. “And the reason it’s a disaster is because it amplifies what her reputation already is.”
Porter was already facing a barrage of criticism over the video that emerged the day before of a testy exchange with CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts, who asked about redistricting in the state and Proposition 50.
She clashed with Watts about whether Porter would need to win over people who voted for President Donald Trump to win the California gubernatorial election.
Porter’s Democratic rivals seized on the awkward exchange with the reporter to question Porter's suitability for the governor’s job. One of them, former California State Controller Betty Yee, called on Porter to drop out.
Porter’s campaign said the interview with Watts went on after the testy exchange.
What People Are Saying
Porter campaign spokesperson Peter Opitz said in a statement, as reported by Politico: “Californians are hungry for a governor who they trust can fight for them against Trump. They know from her work taking on powerful interests in Washington that Katie is never going to be shy about calling out bullshit, and that is why every poll shows Katie firmly in the lead.”
Yee said on X: “Katie Porter is a weak, self-destructive candidate unfit to lead California. The stakes are simply too high for her to stay in this race. It’s time for her to drop out of this race."
What Happens Next
California's primary is scheduled for June 2026. The gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026.
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