Typically, afternoon posts are reserved for paid subscribers. Still, this Katie Porter “meltdown” is both news and analysis that I believe is important for all our subscribers and those who visit.
⏱️ 4.5 min read below, ⏱️ 5 min watch above
TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS COLUMN, STOP AND FIRST WATCH MY VIDEO COMMENTARY ABOVE…
The Interview That Went Sideways
In a Sacramento studio last week, former Rep. Katie Porter faced a straightforward question from CBS Sacramento’s Julie Watts: What would she say to the 6.1 million Californians who backed Donald Trump in 2024? Porter, polling narrowly ahead in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, didn’t hesitate. “How would I need them to win?” she shot back, looked away from the camera, and laughed.
The exchange went downhill quickly. Porter pointed to her wins in purple Orange County as proof she could sway conservatives. But when Watts pressed her about alienating GOP voters—especially amid Proposition 50, the Democrats’ redistricting push—Porter bristled. “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative,” she said. Follow-ups mounted, and frustration boiled over: “I don’t want to keep doing this… I don’t want this all on camera.”
Her campaign claims the sit-down continued for 20 minutes longer, but the three-minute clip portrays a candidate rattled by scrutiny. If you have not watched it, it’s time to take a three-minute break…
Rivals Move In
Democrats pounced. Antonio Villaraigosa’s team jabbed: “We need a governor who will work to solve hard problems and who is not afraid to answer simple questions.” State schools chief Tony Thurmond added, “No candidate for governor should hide from the press or mistreat them—we owe it to the public to be transparent.”
Republicans, sensing an opening in the solidly Democratic state of California, weighed in as well. Ex-Fox host Steve Hilton declared, “As governor, I’ll serve every citizen… whether they voted for the President or not.” Xavier Becerra, in his own CBS chat, struck an inclusive note: “I need every vote. I’m not interested in excluding any.”
Blood in the water, sharks start to circle.
A Disturbing Pattern Emerges
Her recent clashes fit a longer pattern tied to temperament. In 2013 divorce filings, ex-husband Matthew Hoffman accused her of years of verbal abuse, hurling “toys, books, and other objects” at him and dumping steaming mashed potatoes on his head, causing burns that required medical attention. Hoffman, seeking a restraining order, described her calling him a “f—ing idiot” and “f—ing incompetent” while co-parenting their three children. Porter denied physical allegations, framing them as distortions from a bitter split, but Hoffman reaffirmed them during her 2024 Senate bid.
On Capitol Hill, Porter’s “bad boss” reputation grew, fueled by high staff turnover and leaks that portrayed her as prone to rage. Former aide Sasha Georgiades alleged she used anti-Black slurs, mocked staffers who reported harassment, and even restricted her office access by text after blaming her for a COVID exposure in 2022. Anonymous “Dear White Staffers” posts accused her of setting “wildly unrealistic” expectations and going on disparaging rants. Porter’s team dismissed them as unverified gripes.
With all of this going on, her petulant performance in this interview exacerbates rather than calms concerns.
The Pro Deconstructs This Moment Better Than I Could…
Former Roll Call/Former WaPost/Former CNN reporter/analyst Chris Cillizza has charted his own course as an independent journalist and does a lot of video work. He posted up a commentary on Porter’s awful interview that is worth watching. It runs about eight minutes.
So, Does It Matter?
Yes. It should worry Californians. The state faces a $12 billion deficit, with multi-year risks as high as $20 billion, a housing crunch that is displacing families, and a net exodus of over 400,000 residents since 2020, driven by high taxes and bureaucratic red tape. A governor needs steady resolve to rein in spending and hammer out deals, not push allies away. And when you look at the Democrats running for Governor, no one sticks out. It’s the race of the “B-listers” here, which benefits Porter, who does well in polling.
The bottom line: Porter, apparently accustomed to gentler treatment from ideologically friendly interviewers, bristled the moment she faced pointed questions. Julie Watts’ queries weren’t hostile—just direct—and Porter didn’t handle them well.
In the end, this isn’t just about one interview. It’s about temperament. If Porter melts down under a few tough questions, imagine what happens when she faces a budget crisis. It’s not hard to see where Porter has problems. The question is whether anyone else who is running can overcome her ability to raise money, and her residual name identification from her unsuccessful U.S. Senate run.
California elected Gavin Newsom twice. This hardly inspires confidence in the electorate's discernment.
In my video commentary above, I discuss how the top-two election system has enabled the gaming of the system. Below are TV ads making my point.
Gavin Newsom releases commercial against Republican opponent Senator Brian Dahle — but it was before Dahle had advanced to the runoff, so it was a big boost for him.
Adam Schiff does the same thing, featuring and adding attacking Republican opponent Steve Garvey, even though the famed Dodger first baseman hadn’t yet made it to the runoff. Garvey’s making it into the top two blocked Katie Porter, who came in third.
Does Porter plan on doing something like this, featuring Chad Bianco or Steve Hilton?
