Democrat former Rep. Katie Porter, operating for California governor, had a weird meltdown throughout a pre-recorded interview with CBS Sacramento affiliate KOVR-TV reporter Julie Watts that was launched Monday and went viral Tuesday.
Porter served three phrases in Congress, from 2019 to 2025, leaving her Home seat to run what turned out to be a dropping Senate bid within the 2024 jungle major. Porter, who turned notable for her use of a whiteboard in Home hearings, is at the moment the main candidate for governor–polling round 20 % help in a crowded field of Democrats, Republicans, third social gathering and independents.
Watts interviewed eleven candidates operating in subsequent yr’s jungle major for governor to be held on June 2. The 2 high vote getters no matter social gathering advance to the final election on November 3, 2026.
The candidates had been requested the identical questions, with Porter melting down over being requested if she wants the votes of the forty % of Californians who voted for President Donald Trump final yr.
The video report on the candidate interviews was launched Monday. A preview of the Porter interview that was edited proper earlier than the meltdown–however exhibits her laughing on the concept she would want any Trump supporter’s vote to win–was launched in mid-September:
When Katie Porter is our subsequent governor right here in CA, it would make us lengthy for the times of the evil Gavin Newsom. She’s loads like him, solely dumber.
How are Democrats not enraged that she overtly states right here that she plans to verify she runs within the common towards a Republican?! pic.twitter.com/oc9hmVQ5kC
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) September 19, 2025
Within the longer phase launched Monday, Porter threatened to stroll out, saying she didn’t need to have an “sad expertise with you and I don’t need this on digicam.” The reporter Julie Watts tried to relax Porter–who at one level raised her arms to Watts–assuring her that she too didn’t need to have an “sad expertise.”
It was a weird scene, like in a film the place the nurse is making an attempt to calm the agitated psychological affected person within the psyche ward earlier than she picks up a tray and bashes her within the head.
Katie Porter, the entrance runner to be the subsequent Governor of California, tries to go away an interview after getting annoyed w/ @juliewattsTV questions pic.twitter.com/mTzZURG86K
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) October 8, 2025
Certainly, a 2023 New York Post report about Porter’s ex-husband submitting for divorce in 2013 exhibits he accused her of pouring scalding sizzling mashed potatoes on his head throughout an argument (excerpt):
Rep. Katie Porter scalded ex-husband’s scalp with potatoes: paperwork https://t.co/PRd2wH08sE pic.twitter.com/AKYXS6juFO
— New York Put up (@nypost) April 13, 2023
The previous husband of Rep. Katie Porter mentioned the California Democrat regularly abused him verbally and threw “toys, books and different objects” at him throughout their marriage — even pouring scalding-hot mashed potatoes on his head throughout a struggle, in keeping with divorce data.
Matthew Hoffman, who filed for divorce from Porter in 2013, mentioned in a request for a restraining order dated April 30 of that yr that he was “routinely” referred to as a “f—ing fool” and “f—ing incompetent” by his rage-prone partner, who additionally shattered a glass espresso pot on their kitchen counter in March 2012 when she felt their home wasn’t clear sufficient.
…In 2006, Hoffman mentioned, Porter took situation with how Hoffman was making ready mashed potatoes for dinner, asking him: “Can’t you learn the f—ing directions!” Then, her ex-husband mentioned, Porter raised a “ceramic bowl of steaming sizzling potatoes and dumped it on my head, burning my scalp.”
A Newsweek report published August 27 on the California governor’s race confirmed Porter was main the crowded area in two August polls (excerpt):
Republican candidates operating within the California gubernatorial major are hoping to make the race for the mansion aggressive within the solidly Democratic state, as a brand new ballot from the College of California, Berkeley and The Los Angeles Instances confirmed numerous voters stay undecided.
No candidate has help from a transparent majority of voters within the new ballot, however former Democratic Consultant Katie Porter led the pack with 17 % backing. Republican Chad Bianco, who serves because the sheriff of Riverside County, follows with 10 %.
Former Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, held help from 9 % of respondents, whereas 6 % supported conservative commentator Steve Hilton. Two different Democrats—former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and businessman Rick Caruso, who has not formally introduced a marketing campaign—every held help from 4 % of voters.
Thirty-eight % of respondents mentioned they’re nonetheless undecided about who they might help.
…A Citrin Middle/Politico ballot earlier in August confirmed Porter with 21 %, Bianco with 15 %, Hilton with 10 % and each Becerra and Villaraigosa with 9 %…
Emerson Faculty released a new poll September 19 that confirmed Porter sustaining her lead:
Within the 2026 Major for Governor, former Consultant Katie Porter leads with 16% help, adopted by Republican Steve Hilton at 10%, Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco at 8%, and former U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra at 5%. A plurality of voters, 38%, stay undecided. Since August, help for Porter and Hilton has decreased by two factors, respectively, whereas help for Bianco elevated one level, and help for Becerra elevated two factors.
The discharge of Porter’s meltdown interview got here a day after she was endorsed by the pro-abortion PAC Emily’s Listing:
Grateful to have @emilyslist by my facet on this marketing campaign. Now greater than ever, we’d like leaders with spine who will lower via the BS and ship for households.
And there’s nothing that Donald Trump hates greater than dealing with down a powerful, highly effective girl. https://t.co/xdYtzCt7JI
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) October 7, 2025
The whole CBS Sacramento candidates interviews report by Julie Watts:
Excerpt from the KOVR report says Porter stayed to complete the interview:
Porter, who has represented a swing district in Orange County, was the one candidate to refuse to immediately reply the query, taking situation with the premise that she may want republican voters to win.
“How would I want them as a way to win?” Porter requested. “Whether it is me versus a Republican, I believe that I’ll win the individuals who didn’t vote for Trump.”
As a number of of her opponents famous, in California’s top-two open major system, Republican voters may assist put a Democratic candidate excessive.
Porter then threatened to name off the interview, taking situation with too many follow-up questions. She in the end stayed and continued answering questions.
UPDATE: Reporter Julie Watts posted a model with duel digicam photographs after her interview with Porter went viral:
Since this 3min excerpt of 30min phase went viral, we determined to publish it ourselves. However I’d encourage you to look at the complete phase. https://t.co/wHQcHbybqF @CBSNews @kcalnews @CBSSacramento @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/A80fBGiFxE
— Julie Watts (@juliewattsTV) October 8, 2025
