Aspiring California governor Katie Porter flipped out at a staffer for ‘getting in her shot’ in a newly-resurfaced video, as the former congresswoman faces backlash for her now-viral clash with a local journalist.
The 51-year-old Democrat – who has been leading in many of the polls in California‘s primary to replace Gavin Newsom – had recorded a meeting with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support the Biden administration in July 2021.
An unedited version of the video, obtained by POLITICO, showed that just several minutes into the conversation a female staffer wearing a facemask ducked into view and a few minutes later she could be seen rifling through some items in the background.
‘Get out of my f***ing shot,’ Porter yelled as she noticed the aid, who said she simply wanted to correct something the congresswoman had said about electric vehicles.
‘OK,’ Porter replies, clearly irritated. ‘You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot.’
Later on in the video call, in which Porter touted the Biden administration’s climate agenda and promoted electric vehicles, the then-Congresswoman reportedly also complained to Granholm that she had not yet visited the White House despite raising a ‘s**t ton’ of money for Biden.
‘Never been there,’ she lamented. ‘Some of my colleagues [have been] there three, four times. I don’t fit in the photo-op for some reason.’
She also moaned about being out of touch with Biden officials.
Aspiring California governor Katie Porter was caught on camera flipping out at a staffer for ‘getting in her shot’
Porter also lamented in the video that she had not yet visited the White House despite raising a ‘s**t ton’ of money for former President Joe Biden’s campaign
The comments came during a taped conversation with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in July 2021
‘I’m like the least in-connection with the White House member of Congress,’ Porter reportedly said – prompting Granholm to try to assuage her.
‘That is not true,’ the then-Energy Secretary could be heard saying, according to Politico.
The final, edited version of the webinar that was published by the Department of Energy, did not include the exchanges.
But the new report spells trouble for Porter, who has faced accusations for years that she was a difficult boss or was abusive to employees during her time in Congress.
Her recent meltdown in an interview with local CBS News reporter Julie Watts also does not seem to help.
In the now-viral interview, Porter was being probed about Newsom’s attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats – and what she would say to Californians who voted for President Donald Trump whom Watts said she will ‘need to win.’
Porter, though, seemed to disagree as she furrowed her brow and asked: ‘How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?’
Still, Watts stood her ground.
‘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?’
Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor
Porter became furious at the line of questioning and criticized CBS News reporter Julie Watts for asking ‘seven follow-ups to every question’
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.
With that in mind, 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 then questioned how Porter could be sure that a Democrat-on-Democrat general wouldn’t happen.
The question prompted the former congresswoman to get increasingly annoyed, as she said she would build the support and cited her experience representing Orange County in Congress, which is a swing district.
‘But you just said you don’t need those Trump voters,’ Watts retorted.
With that, 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?’
Porter said she believes she can win the governor’s office without the help of Trump voters
Porter’s comments were fiercely criticized online
At that point, Watts returned to the original topic, which was that she wanted to know what she’d say to Trump voters against Newsom’s redistricting efforts.
‘I’m happy to say that, it’s the ‘do you need them to win’ part that I don’t understand,’ the Democrat responded.
Still, she 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.
‘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?’
The former congresswoman has faced accusations for years that she was a difficult boss or was abusive to employees during her time in Congress
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.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Porter’s campaign for comment.
But in a statement to Politico on Wednesday, the former congresswoman said: ‘It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a higher standard and that was especially true as a member of Congress.
‘I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work,’ she said.
Porter left Congress following 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.
