Former Rep. Katie Porter announces bid for California governor

Porter, a Democrat who represented Orange County in Congress for three terms, launched her campaign in a video posted to social media, casting herself as a fighter who will stand up to President Donald Trump and corporate interests.

“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. “As governor, I won’t ever back down when Trump hurts Californians — whether he’s holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights or our communities or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies.”

Newsom is ineligible to run in 2026 due to term limits. His second and final term ends in January 2027, leaving the governor’s seat wide open in the next election. The primary is set for June 2, 2026, with the general election on Nov. 3.

Porter first won office in 2018, flipping a Republican congressional seat in Orange County in a year where county voters sent all Democrats to Washington. She gained national recognition for her aggressive questioning of Trump administration officials and corporate executives, often using a whiteboard to break down complex issues.

“As governor, I’ll bring all voices to the table to hear new ideas no matter who they come from or what else we may agree or disagree on,” Porter said. “I’ve only ever been motivated by one thing: making Californians’ lives better. And I’ll go toe to toe with anyone who tries to hurt Californians.”

Since leaving Congress in January after an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, Porter has returned to teaching at UC Irvine Law.