Katie Porter, a leading Democratic primary candidate for governor of California, made waves the other day. She recently had a contentious on-camera confrontation with CBS News reporter Julie Watts. In our recent interview, the conversation focused on a successful statewide redistricting referendum. The one exception would be if this measure seriously threatens the standing of Republican voters who supported former President Donald Trump.
With Vice President Kamala Harris announcing she will no longer take on incumbents, Porter emerged as the top progressive candidate in a dense primary. She ran into trouble when pressed on her plans to win over right-wing voters. For much of the interview, she seemed bewildered. The notion that a Democratic candidate should hope to draw even moderate Republicans in California deeply shocked her.
Porter brickled at that and leaned in towards Watts, disputing the assumption embedded in the question’s premise. “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” she responded, indicating her dissatisfaction with the line of questioning. The fiery exchange grew deeper as Porter got emotional, remarking, “I don’t want to have to keep doing this. I’m going to take that back,” … then threatens to leave the interview.
Through all the tension, Porter was clear that she does not plan on leaving any votes behind in her presidential bid. She trumpeted her victory at winning conservative voters in her Orange County congressional district. This proved her skill in bringing people together from both sides of the aisle.
When asked if she expected to win over “everybody who did not vote for Trump,” Porter acknowledged the challenges ahead. “In a general election? I don’t intend that to be the case,” she said, signaling her understanding of the complexities involved in her campaign.
The incident led to condemnation from many public officials. Among them all was Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff who’s been both a vocal opponent of Gov. Bianco remarked on Porter’s behavior during the interview, accusing her of throwing “a tantrum on TV because you do not like the question.”
Tony Thurmond, California’s state superintendent and fellow Democratic candidate, echoed concerns about Porter’s temperament, stating, “If she can’t answer basic questions from a reporter, how can Californians expect her to stand up to President Trump?” In addition, he added, Porter’s conduct in the job interview is part of a “pattern” that will hurt her bid for office.
Betty Yee, California’s State Controller, added her voice to the criticism, asserting that “Katie Porter doesn’t have the temperament to be governor.” These comments are a sign of a rising panic among Democrats that Porter could be in for a far easier walk through the political gauntlet.
Thurmond suggested that Julie Watts of CBS San Francisco serve as moderator for a debate of the Democratic candidates. This searing proposal followed a contentious back-and-forth. The aim of this proposal is to build a platform for candidates and campaigners to challenge these pressing issues more directly. It hopes to soothe divisions in the party.
Porter is making every effort to shore up Democratic support across the board in California. This brush with death might make or break her campaign, but it gives her an opening. With a vast field of candidates vying for attention and support, how she navigates moments like this could be crucial for her ambitions in the upcoming election.