Democrat former Rep. Katie Porter, working 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 shedding Senate bid within the 2024 jungle main. Porter, who grew to become notable for her use of a whiteboard in Home hearings, is at the moment the main candidate for governor–polling round 20 p.c assist in a crowded field of Democrats, Republicans, third occasion and independents.
Watts interviewed eleven candidates working in subsequent yr’s jungle main for governor to be held on June 2. The 2 prime vote getters no matter occasion advance to the final election on November 3, 2026.
The candidates have been requested the identical questions, with Porter melting down over being requested if she wants the votes of the forty p.c 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 thought 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 quite a bit like him, solely dumber.
How are Democrats not enraged that she overtly states right here that she plans to verify she runs within the normal towards a Republican?! pic.twitter.com/oc9hmVQ5kC
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) September 19, 2025
Within the longer section launched Monday, Porter threatened to stroll out, saying she didn’t wish 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 palms to Watts–assuring her that she too didn’t wish to have an “sad expertise.”
It was a weird scene, like in a film the place the nurse is attempting 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 following Governor of California, tries to go away an interview after getting pissed off 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 stated 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 accordance with divorce data.
Matthew Hoffman, who filed for divorce from Porter in 2013, stated in a request for a restraining order dated April 30 of that yr that he was “routinely” known 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 stated, Porter took difficulty with how Hoffman was getting ready mashed potatoes for dinner, asking him: “Can’t you learn the f—ing directions!” Then, her ex-husband stated, 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 working within the California gubernatorial main 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 Occasions confirmed numerous voters stay undecided.
No candidate has assist from a transparent majority of voters within the new ballot, however former Democratic Consultant Katie Porter led the pack with 17 p.c backing. Republican Chad Bianco, who serves because the sheriff of Riverside County, follows with 10 p.c.
Former Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, held assist from 9 p.c of respondents, whereas 6 p.c 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 assist from 4 p.c of voters.
Thirty-eight p.c of respondents stated they’re nonetheless undecided about who they’d assist.
…A Citrin Middle/Politico ballot earlier in August confirmed Porter with 21 p.c, Bianco with 15 p.c, Hilton with 10 p.c and each Becerra and Villaraigosa with 9 p.c…
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% assist, 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, assist for Porter and Hilton has decreased by two factors, respectively, whereas assist for Bianco elevated one level, and assist 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 Record:
Grateful to have @emilyslist by my aspect on this marketing campaign. Now greater than ever, we want leaders with spine who will reduce by the BS and ship for households.
And there’s nothing that Donald Trump hates greater than going through down a powerful, highly effective lady. 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 difficulty with the premise that she may want republican voters to win.
“How would I want them in an effort 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 main system, Republican voters may assist put a Democratic candidate excessive.
Porter then threatened to name off the interview, taking difficulty with too many follow-up questions. She finally stayed and continued answering questions.
UPDATE: Reporter Julie Watts posted a model with duel digicam pictures after her interview with Porter went viral:
Since this 3min excerpt of 30min section went viral, we determined to put up it ourselves. However I’d encourage you to look at the complete section. https://t.co/wHQcHbybqF @CBSNews @kcalnews @CBSSacramento @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/A80fBGiFxE
— Julie Watts (@juliewattsTV) October 8, 2025
