California Democrat Katie Porter, considered a leading contender in the state’s 2026 gubernatorial race, is facing backlash after abruptly ending a tense interview with a CBS reporter who pressed her on whether she needs to appeal to millions of Trump voters to win statewide.
According to Fox News, in a viral clip posted Tuesday night, Porter appeared frustrated by the repeated questioning from CBS investigative journalist Julie Watts.
“I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative,” Porter said before cutting the interview short. “I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it.”
The exchange quickly spread across social media, with conservatives accusing Porter of losing her temper when confronted with standard political questions.
“This Katie Porter crashout is INCREDIBLE,” GOP communicator Matt Whitlock wrote on X.
“California Democratic consultants have been telling me for years that Katie Porter is the most unpleasant and unprofessional candidate they’ve ever encountered and well…I think they might have been on to something,” political consultant Liz Mair added.
“Katie Porter just had a meltdown when asked what she’d say to GOP voters,” California Republican Congressman Ken Calvert posted. “Her tirade is a window into the mentality of radical CA Democrat politicians. They can’t stand those who disagree with them. They’re trying to silence their opponents with Prop 50… We have to take our state back from these extremists.”
Conservative commentator Riley Gaines joked, “Katie Porter having a meltdown over a journalist being a journalist is exactly what I needed to see this morning.”
“Thoughts and prayers to Katie Porter’s campaign staff who must deal with this every day and can’t film it,” Torunn Sinclair, communications director for the Congressional Leadership Fund, quipped.
Other critics piled on. “Katie Porter is the epitome of a Karen,” GOP digital strategist Alec Sears wrote. “Just pure, unearned ego and a vile attitude.”
“Follow-up questions are a fact of life,” commentator Michelle Tafoya added. “A good reporter listens to your answer and follows up for clarification. @katieporteroc has no business leading a state. Any state.”
Even some Democrats weighed in. “This is simply not how to run for office or how to deal with the media,” Democratic consultant Lis Smith posted. “And if this is how someone acts on camera, imagine how they act off camera.”
Porter, 51, served three terms in Congress after flipping an Orange County district in 2018 and later ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. Known as a prolific fundraiser and political firebrand, she is competing in California’s “jungle primary” system, where the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — advance to the general election.
Some of her gubernatorial rivals used the viral moment to draw contrasts.
“We need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions,” Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa posted.
“I’m not interested in excluding any vote,” fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra wrote. “Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.”
Republican candidate Steve Hilton said, “15 years of one-party rule. This is what you get. It’s time for change in California.”
And Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco called the incident a “tantrum,” adding, “Katie Porter is just another unhinged Democrat who would complete Gavin Newsom’s destruction of our beautiful state.”
