Laguna Beach Democratic Club Meeting Hosts Rep. Katie Porter

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Congresswoman Katie Porter, Representative of the 47th U.S. Congressional District, will speak to her constituents at the Laguna Beach Democratic Club at a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m.

Also speaking will be Nikkisa Abdollahi, an Iranian-American writer, speaker, artist, and former TEDx organizer.

"Congresswoman Porter is known for speaking truth to power, using her classroom teaching skills and whiteboard to drive home her points," according to a recent news release.

An attorney and UC Irvine law professor, Rep. Porter was elected in 2018 and served the 45th congressional district from 2019 to 2023. When redistricting took effect in 2023, Porter’s district shifted to the 47th, which now encompasses much of coastal Orange County, including Laguna Beach. Porter is a single mother of three school-aged children, and her primary focus in Washington is aiding low-income, disabled, elderly, and working Americans, according to her website. She is currently in the running for the U.S. Senate.

Porter is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, working to protect beaches and public lands, monitoring oil companies, and increasing vigilance around wildfires and other natural disasters.

"As a member of the House Oversight Committee, she has asked tough questions of bank CEOs and administration officials," a spokesperson for the In February, she was named to the Joint Economic Committee, a panel of representatives and senators that monitors the economy and recommends policies to strengthen it. Porter is the only Californian named to serve on the panel.

Since taking office, Rep. Porter has brought back nearly $16 million in federal benefits to Orange County residents. Her legislation has simplified access to no-cost meals for schoolchildren and safeguarded public safety while protecting Americans experiencing mental health crises. She recently reintroduced a bipartisan bill with Adrian Smith (R-NE) to remove a major obstacle to care for seniors who wish to age at home by allowing them to use their money in Health Savings Accounts to pay for homecare services. She champions lower taxes for middle-class Californians and fights price gouging by pharmaceutical companies.

Iranian-American activist Abdollahi will discuss the historical and present-day geopolitical situation in Iran and the role of personal responsibility in the fight for self-determination and a secular democracy. Abdollahi started and runs Tiny Refinery, a converted warehouse space in Irvine where she repurposes and sells furniture, donating a percentage to selected charities. It is also a hub for community-building, including Jeffersonian dinners, art shows, and talks that foster understanding, connection, and growth among youth and families.

Prospective new Democratic Club members are invited to sign up to attend the April 12 online meeting.

Club business begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by guest speakers.

"Club members do not need to be registered Democrats – independents may join – although Democratic Party registration allows only registered party members to vote on club matters, which include candidate endorsements," they said.

Established in 1945, the Laguna Beach Democratic Club is an all-volunteer, chartered club of the Democratic Party of Orange County. It is in its 78th year of uninterrupted engagement supporting Democratic candidates, policies, and values. "Democrats believe in an economy that benefits everyone, housing and healthcare are rights, diversity is strength, and democracy is worth defending," a spokesperson for the group wrote in a recent news release.

For more information about the Laguna Beach Democratic Club, visit thelbdems.com.