Politics & Government
Former OC Rep. Katie Porter Joins Race For CA Governor
Democrat and former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter announced her bid to run for governor of California in a video posted Tuesday.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Former Rep. Katie Porter, a darling of the progressive movement, just announced her bid to run for governor of California, succeeding Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Porter announced that she would vie for the seat Tuesday in a campaign video posted to social media. In the video, Porter describes herself a fighter who will stand up to President Donald Trump and corporate interests.
Porter joins an already crowded field in the race for governor as Gavin Newson's term expires next year.
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"What California needs now is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit. Fresh blood and new ideas. Leaders with the backbone to fight for what's right," Porter said in the video. "That's why I am running for governor."
Porter is the latest prominent candidate to join the race for governor of California. One candidate who has not yet entered the race is former Vice President Kamala Harris. She said she would make her decision on whether to run for governor in 2026 at the end of the summer. Her name recognition and fundraising success could make her an instant frontrunner.
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Porter said in December at a post-election conference at UC Irvine, if Harris joined the race for governor, it would prompt some Democrats to drop out.
"If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side," Porter said.
Other announced candidates include Democrats Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state Controller Betty Yee, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and businessman Stephen Cloobeck, as well as Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Porter, 51, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives but did not seek re-election in 2024. Instead, she ran for the U.S. Senate seat won by Adam Schiff.
Porter returned to teaching at UC Irvine's law school after losing the election for U.S. Senate.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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