Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter is making a bid for California's gubernatorial chair, her campaign announced Tuesday. Porter, who has made a name for herself with her meticulous and often viral interrogations using a whiteboard during congressional hearings, is pitching that same fervor in a crowded field vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. According to CBS News Los Angeles, Porter promises new ideas and the courage to challenge what she calls "dangerous leaders and their corrupt enablers."
"What we need is new ideas, a willingness to take on dangerous leaders and their corrupt enablers," Porter said in her campaign video. The list of competitors already includes names such as former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, California Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, according to a report by KTLA. Speculation also buzzes around former Vice President Kamala Harris, whose decision to run or not could drastically reshape the race.
Porter is leaning into her track record of opposition to the Trump administration, cementing her reputation as a progressive Democrat who's not afraid to continue that confrontation at the state level. "In Congress I held the Trump administration's feet to the fire when they hurt Americans. As governor, I won't ever back down when Trump hurts Californians," said Porter in her announcement video, as documented by CBS News Los Angeles. Porter, who served three terms as a representative in California, also ran for the U.S. Senate to fill the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat but was defeated.
However, the shape of the Democratic primary could change if Harris, a former California senator and state attorney general, decides to enter the fray. "If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side," Porter acknowledged to The Orange County Register previously. It seems Porter's campaign is prepared to pivot if Harris decides to join the race, a decision which Harris said she will make by the end of summer.
California's primary system could see candidates from various parties facing off on the same ballot. Scheduled for June 2, 2026, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election. As Democrats are favored to maintain control of the governorship in this deeply blue state, the primary race remains a critical battlefield where Porter hopes her message will resonate with enough voters to secure a top-two finish.
