A Democratic candidate to be California’s next governor has expressed remorse after videos surfaced of her aggressively responding to a news reporter and berating a former staff member.
In her first comments since the videos went viral, Katie Porter said she “fell short” and said she apologised to the staffer for her behaviour.
Porter, who is seen as a frontrunner in the race to replace Gavin Newsom, has received little defence from members of her party, and some have suggested her behaviour shows she is unfit for the job.
It is unclear whether other candidates will come forward ahead of the June 2026 primary vote, which will determine the two finalists in the race.
During an interview with the Inside California Politics programme on Tuesday, Porter was asked whether she had the temperament to be the next governor.
Porter used the question to publicly address the viral videos for the first time.
“When I look at those videos, I want people to know that I understand that I could have handled things better,” Porter said. “I think I’m known as someone who’s able to handle tough questions, who’s willing to answer questions. And I want people to know I really value the incredible work that my staff can do.”
Porter was pressed on whether there were any other videos that existed that could show similar behaviour by her, but largely sidestepped the question.
“I can tell you what I’ve told you, which is that I’m taking responsibility for the situation and I’m also not going to back down from fighting back for California, from being tough,” she said.
She pledged to continue in the race to lead America’s most populous state.
The first viral interaction was shared online last week and showed Porter threatening to walk out of a recent interview with a local CBS news reporter. She also laughed at a question the reporter asked.
The second video that surfaced showed the former congresswoman shouting at a staffer in 2021, and using an expletive.
Porter became a household name when she represented California in the US House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. She was known for her pointed, and effective, interrogations of individuals asked to testify before Congress.
She would often use a whiteboard to prove her points, and videos of those interactions would go viral.
Porter is running to replace Newsom, who cannot run for another term. Newsom is, however, considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for the next US presidential contest, in 2028.
Porter became a clear frontrunner in California’s governor race after former Vice-President Kamala Harris announced she would not run for the office.
There is still time for other candidates to enter the contest ahead of next year’s primary, and California Senator Alex Padilla is among those being urged to enter the race.