CA-GOV: Katie Porter Apologizes for Behavior in Viral Videos at First Public Forum

[RandySF]

Appearing at a public forum for the first time since a pair of viral videos rocked her campaign for governor, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter expressed regret on Friday and vowed to prove to California voters that she has the temperament for the state’s top job.

Speaking at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento, Porter apologized for threatening to walk out of a recent interview with CBS News Sacramento — and for cursing at a staff member in a 2021 video unearthed by POLITICO last week.

But she also attempted to regain her footing atop the 2026 race, promising that her contrition would not come at the expense of her combative political style.

“I want people to know that I understand that what I did was not good,” Porter said. “I’m not going to mince words about it, but I also want people to understand that I am in this fight because I am not going to back down and give one inch when people are hurting Californians.


https://www.kqed.org/news/12059961/katie-porter-apologizes-for-behavior-in-viral-videos-at-first-public-forum

[oasis]

1. "Not going to back down and give one inch

when people are hurting Californians”.
In other words”Katie bar the door” if you wish to do harm to Californians.

[nilram]

2. I really like her smarts, gumption, and flip charts.

Without the behavior issues, I’d still somewhat prefer Schiff, but it’s pretty close.

With those, well, I think therapy and/or meditation would make her and those around her happier, and even more effective. I hope she keeps fighting for progressives.

[stopdiggin]

4. Just to be clear ..

It's one thing when you're 'standing up' for the people, for what's right - and fighting the good fight. Speaking truth to power and so on ...

It's a completely different thing when you're demeaning and beating up on staffers ..
Capiche?

Like many others, I like Katie. But - if she has a habit of blowing a fuse ... I think that's something I need to know about.

[elleng]

5. Damn!

[fujiyamasan]

6. What I don't understand

Is how anyone here can support someone that treats their staff so poorly.

Staffers are paid absolute shit. They’re often there because they’re young and idealistic and trying to get something on their resume as they’re starting out their career, or before grad school, or during the summers.

I don’t care how important you think your cause is, or how high a standard you think you hold yourself to, or how hard you work. Nothing justifies treating people this way.

For this reason I’ll be looking at others when voting in the primary. Not treating your staff with respect is a dealbreaker for me.

[Raine]

7. Agree. Treating staff that way is a big NO for me

it really shows your true character, it's just ugly.

[Conjuay]

15. 'If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.'

Ironic that this was written by a hater...

[JoseBalow]

8. I was disappointed how ugly her attacks against Schiff were last time

It's a shame, I liked her so much before that. This latest episode doesn't help improve my opinion of her.

[SocialDemocrat61]

10. That left a bad taste in my mouth too

[QueerDuck]

9. It appears that she has already peaked and is on her way down. She will not be the next Governor of California.

Personally, I do not believe she has the demeanor for the job, or maybe a more accurate statement would be to say that the persona she had on display when she was in congress is not the right one for THIS job. Instead her future will be as a paid political consultant on one of the networks or cable-news outlets... or maybe she could find a home on youtube with her own punditry channel and editorializing.

[QueerDuck]

14. THERE have been none that I'm aware of, but...

I'll be very interested in knowing how many others agree with my opinion of her and her chances.

[librechik]

12. I wish she would stay in her current position and grow for awhile. She's so great!

There's a lot going on right now and her ambition, while deserved, is not timely right now. It's a distraction, frankly. She could use some ripening. Obviously. Isn't she sort of safe in her current seat? I want her in Congress, of course. But only a chump would go after Schiff right now. Come ob.

[SocialDemocrat61]

18. She doesn't have a current position

She left the House to run for Senate 2 years ago and lost to Schiff in the primary.

[Rebl2]

19. I don't think she

is in the house any longer. I believe she lost her last election.

[librechik]

20. Oops. Thanks for the info you guys. didn't know that.

Huh.

[Melon]

13. She's cooked. The bad press killed her polling.

Nobody wants to vote for someone who abuses her staff.

[yardwork]

17. Well, approximately half the country votes for far worse.

I think this is an example of how Democrats really are different from Republicans. The governor of SD shot a puppy and a pet goat in a fit of rage, and now she's head of Homeland Security.

I think Noem's behavior is far worse than Porter's. It shows that Democrats in CA have high standards.

[PeaceWave]

21. Not sure if that is an apt comparison...

I can understand putting down an animal that is suffering. I've had to do that, as have many people. On the other hand, bullying and creating a toxic work environment can result in tremendous human psychological damage. Society as a whole is only now starting to come to grips with this issue. For this reason, I think many folks took it quite personally when they viewed the Katie Porter videos. For just a moment, it took them back to some boss who was a tyrant. And for what? What does a mean boss get out of abusing someone who works under them? Do they go home and feel better about themselves? It's an incredibly troubling circumstance when a person with the wrong temperament ends up leading any organization, let alone a political or governmental entity.

[Happy Hoosier]

16. I've seen enough.

I used to think she was a next-generation leader. But she’s had a string of poor decisions and bad behavior. Abusing staff is the final straw.