Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) admitted that she “could have handled things better” after two videos featuring her conversations with a staffer and a reporter recently went viral.
In one video, Porter was seen yelling at a staffer to “get out of her fucking shot” while she was recording a Zoom appearance. In another, she signaled that she’d like to cut an interview short after expressing dissatisfaction with the reporter’s line of questioning.
Both videos have garnered thousands of views and have increased scrutiny of Porter as she makes a bid for California governor in 2026.
“I want people to know that I understand that I could have handled things better,” Porter told Inside California Politics in a Tuesday interview. “I want people to know that I really value the incredible work that my staff can do.”
Porter was first elected to the House in 2018 and became known for her incisive questioning during congressional hearings and her use of a whiteboard to break down complex policies. She was defeated in her bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 2024 and has fielded criticism for her treatment of staffers in the past as well.
Porter is again running in a crowded field of candidates including former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco for the gubernatorial seat
In 2022, one House staffer shared text messages of Porter chastising her for giving the congresswoman COVID-19. The staffer also alleged that Porter had retaliated over the incident, though the lawmaker’s office argued that the two had already agreed on an end date for her work prior to that.
Others also made anonymous allegations via the Dear White Staffers Instagram account, which included claims that Porter disparaged staffers, had unrealistic expectations and made racist comments.
Porter’s communications director at the time disputed those claims and said she had “never been racist or abusive to staff” in a statement to Politico.
“People who know me know I can be tough, but I need to do a better job expressing appreciation for the amazing work that my team does,” Porter said in the Tuesday interview.