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“Unless you think you’re going to get 60% of the vote. You think you’ll get– all of, everybody who did not vote for Trump will vote for you,” Watts questioned.
“In a general election, yes,” Porter replied confidently — and arrogantly.
Watts followed up by reminding Porter of California’s unique “top-two” primary system, which can pit two Democrats against each other in the general election.
“What if it’s you versus another Democrat?” she asked.
“I don’t intend that to be the case,” Porter said sharply, trying to regain control of the exchange. Watts then asked if Porter planned to “ask them not to run,” leaving the congresswoman momentarily speechless.
Attempting to recover, Porter bragged about her representation of Orange County, a historically Republican area — but the reporter wasn’t letting her off the hook.
“But you just said you don’t need them to win,” Watts noted.
That’s when Porter lost her composure completely. She threw up her hands and snapped, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative.”
Watts, remaining calm, replied, “Every other candidate has answered this question. This is not argumentative.”
Rather than finish the conversation like a professional, Porter decided she’d had enough. As Watts tried again to get an answer, Porter began removing her microphone. “I don’t wanna keep doing this. I’m gonna call it,” she said, glaring toward the camera crew.
Watts tried to continue, saying, “Every single candidate has–” but Porter cut her off. “I don’t care. I don’t care,” she snapped, her voice rising. “I’ve never had to do this before, ever!”
As the interview fell apart, Porter was overheard saying, “I don’t want this all on camera,” a line that perfectly captured her frustration — and her inability to handle scrutiny.
WATCH:
The New York Post later noted that this meltdown fits a familiar pattern for Porter. In Congress, she’s made a name for herself by badgering witnesses and grandstanding for viral clips rather than getting real results. Her reputation as a self-righteous interrogator may play well with far-left activists online, but it’s not helping her connect with everyday Californians.
Even worse, those who’ve worked closely with her say the Katie Porter America sees on camera is far from the real one. Former staffers have accused her of bullying, belittling, and creating a toxic work environment — claims that mirror allegations made by her ex-husband in court.
Matthew Hoffman, who divorced Porter in 2013, described years of verbal abuse and emotional outbursts. In court documents, he alleged that Porter would throw “toys, books, and other objects” at him during arguments. One altercation reportedly ended with her dumping scalding-hot mashed potatoes on his head.
For a candidate who likes to present herself as a fighter for fairness and accountability, Porter’s pattern of behavior tells a very different story. Her meltdown on camera wasn’t just a bad look — it was a glimpse behind the curtain.
If Porter can’t handle a simple question about winning over Trump supporters, it’s hard to imagine how she plans to handle the pressures of running California. Her campaign may have just taken a hit it won’t recover from.
