The gubernatorial candidate from OC draws fire from rivals after a tense exchange over a question about winning over Trump voters.
Former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate for California governor, grew visibly frustrated during an interview with CBS Sacramento after repeated questions about whether she would need support from Californians who voted for President Donald Trump.
In footage released Monday, reporter Julie Watts asked Porter what she would say to the California voters who backed Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
“What do you say to the 40% of California voters who you’ll need in order to win who voted for Trump?” Watts asked.
“How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter replied, turning to the side and laughing. She went on to say that in a general election against a Republican, she believes she would win the people who did not vote for Trump.
When Watts pressed further, asking what if she faced another Democrat instead, Porter replied, “I don’t intend that to be the case,” adding that she has “the support already in terms of name recognition, and so I’m going to do the very best I can to make sure that we get through this primary in a really strong position.”
In California’s open primary system, all candidates — no matter their party — appear on the same ballot, and the two with the most votes move on to the general election.
Porter said she had previously won in a closely divided Orange County congressional district and could persuade conservative voters.
