Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor.
Porter, who currently leads many of the polls in the state’s primary to replace Gavin Newsom, was being asked about the current governor’s attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats.
Reporter Julie Watts asked what she would say to Californians who voted for Donald Trump, whom she’ll ‘need to win.’
The 51-year-old furrowed her brow and asked: ‘How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?’
Watts pushed back, saying: ‘Unless you think you’re going to get 60 percent of the vote. You think you’ll get 60 percent? Everyone who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?’
President Trump won just 38 percent of the vote in the Golden State to Kamala Harris‘ 58 percent.
‘If it is me versus a Republican? I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump,’ Porter said, after laughing at Watts’ initial question.
Watts then pointed out that California’s electoral system involves a ‘jungle primary,’ in which several candidates from all parties contest one primary, with the top two candidates moving on to the general.
Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor
Porter, who currently leads many of the polls in the state’s primary to replace Gavin Newsom , was being asked about the current governor’s attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats
Porter was pressed on what would happen were her general election opponent to be another Democrat.
‘I don’t intend that to be the case,’ she responded.
Watts wondered how she could be sure that a Democrat-on-Democrat general wouldn’t happen.
Porter, growing increasingly annoyed, said she would build the support and cited her experience representing Orange County in Congress, as its a swing district.
‘But you just said you don’t need those Trump voters,’ Watts retorted.
Porter finally began to crack, starting to gesture with her hands and questioning Watts’ interview.
‘Well you asked me if I needed them to win. I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative, what is your question?’
Watts then returned to the original topic, which was that she wanted to know what she’d say to Trump voters against Newsom’s redistricting efforts.
Reporter Julie Watts asked what she would say to Californians who voted for Donald Trump , whom she’ll ‘need to win’
Porter became furious at the line of questioning and criticized Watts for asking ‘seven follow-ups to every question’
Porter said: ‘I’m happy to say that, it’s the ‘do you need them to win’ part that I don’t understand.’
As she continued to try and explain herself, she finally became fed up with the questions.
‘I don’t want to keep doing this, I want to call it. Thank you,’ she said, suggesting she was about to walk out on Watts.
Watts asked: ‘You’re not going to do the interview with us?’
Porter answered: ‘Nope, not like this, I’m not. Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.’
Watts said that ‘every single candidate’ had gone through a similar interview, with Porter responding: ‘I don’t care.’
‘I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation in which you ask me about every issue on this list and if every question, you’re gonna make up a follow up question, we’re never going to get there,’ she continued.
Porter indignantly claimed she ‘never had to do this before’ as she was daring herself to walk out on Watts, who again pointed out that every other candidate had done the same interview.
Porter’s conduct was slammed by her fellow candidates on both sides of the aisle
‘I’m me. I’m running for governor because I’m a leader, so I am going to make-‘ she said before Watts asked: ‘So you’re not going to answer interview questions from reporters?’
Watts tried to bring the interview back to her list of questions but Porter refused.
‘I don’t want to have a negative experience with you and I don’t want this all on camera,’ Porter said.
Watts agreed that she didn’t want to have a negative experience either but she would ‘love to continue to ask these questions so that we can show our viewers what every candidate feels about every one of these issues that they care about and redistricting is a massive issue.’
The clip was blasted across social media and pounced on by her electoral rivals on both sides.
Fellow Democrat Xavier Beccera wrote: ‘I’m not interested in excluding any vote. Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.’
Republican Steve Hilton added: ’15 years of one party rule. This is what you get. It’s time for change in California.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Porter for comment.
Porter believes she can win the governor’s office without the help of Trump voters
Porter, who left Congress in 2025 after a failed Senate bid, has been the subject of controversy in recent years
Porter, who left Congress in 2025 after a failed Senate bid, has been the subject of controversy in recent years.
Last year, she obtained a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after accusing him in court of abuse and harassment that she said caused her to fear for her safety and well-being.
The California Democrat petitioned for a domestic violence restraining order on Tuesday with the Orange Country Superior Court, court records show.
Porter alleged her romantic partner of several years sent her, her family and her staff more than a thousand text messages and emails over three months, according to the filing reviewed by Politico.
Judge Michael Perez approved the order Tuesday afternoon ordering Willis to make no contact and stay away from the congresswoman and her children until another hearing in mid-December.
He also ordered Willis not contact her current and former employees or her co-workers about her, but he denied requests for restraining orders for adults she does not live with including her mother, according to the documents reviewed by Politico.
Including in the case filing were details about threats against Porter, 50, to call Child Protective Services to remove her children from her custody.
It also detailed attempts to extort Porter for thousands of dollars and make ‘defamatory’ false allegations like her having genital herpes. She submitted test results to the court to prove she did not have the sexually transmitted disease, Politico said.
Porter left Congress after an unsuccessful run for Senate.
She was first elected to Congress in the 2018 midterms and has represented first California’s 45th district and then 47th district since 2023.
In Congress, she built a name for herself in House committee hearings where she went head-to-head with witnesses and using a whiteboard as a prop.
Following her election loss to Senator Adam Schiff in November, Porter wasted no time in throwing her hat back in the ring.
She is currently campaigning for the 2026 California gubernatorial election, with current Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited next year.
