It’s not every day a politician admits to being a bully, but Katie Porter, a Democrat vying to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, has done just that after some eyebrow-raising videos hit the internet.
Here’s the quick rundown: Porter, once a frontrunner in the 2026 gubernatorial race, is now scrambling to explain viral clips of her berating a staffer and snapping at a reporter, all while facing backlash from rivals and online critics, though she’s got some loyal backers and no plans to bow out, as the Daily Mail reports.
Let’s rewind to 2021, when a video captured Porter loudly chewing out a staffer in a moment that’s now haunting her campaign.
Fast forward to a more recent TV interview, and we see Porter in a tense spat with a journalist, even threatening to walk out if the questions didn’t suit her mood.
These clips didn’t just sit quietly in the archives; they exploded online, earning her condemnation from fellow Democrats and a fair share of mockery from the digital peanut gallery.
Now, Porter’s not one to shy away from a fight, and she’s known for her whiteboard-wielding takedowns of corporate bigwigs during congressional hearings, a tactic that’s earned her small-dollar donations nationwide.
But that fiery spirit seems to have a downside, and on a Tuesday Zoom call with the Working Families Party, Porter finally addressed the controversy head-on.
“What I did to that staffer was wrong,” she admitted to Nikki Laurenzo of Inside California Politics, owning up to her misstep.
“I’ve acknowledged it to her in that moment, and I’m acknowledging it now,” Porter added, trying to put a lid on the damage, though one wonders if voters will see this as genuine or just damage control for a campaign that’s taken a hit.
Despite the mess, Porter’s not without allies -- Teamsters California co-chairs Peter Finn and Chris Griswold endorsed her back in September, praising her as a fighter for the little guy.
“We need strong leaders like Katie Porter that are willing to call it like it is and stand up and fight for everyday Californians,” they said, though it’s hard not to smirk at the irony of championing toughness while her temper’s under fire.
Even Whoopi Goldberg chimed in on The View, shrugging off the uproar with a casual, “Human beings have bad days,” which, fair enough, but most of us don’t scold staffers on camera.
Meanwhile, the 2026 race to succeed Newsom is getting crowded, with Democrat contenders like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Biden health secretary Xavier Becerra, and former state controller Betty Yee all in the mix.
On the Republican side, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are throwing their hats in, and with Porter stumbling, don’t be surprised if more names—like Sen. Alex Padilla, who hasn’t ruled out a run -- join the fray.
Ultimately, Porter’s campaign insists she’s not stepping aside, and with a knack for fundraising and a loyal base, she’s still a force, but these videos might just give voters pause about whether her “toughness” is leadership or something less flattering.
