Katie Porter, a former House member and current candidate for governor of California, recently faced questions about engaging with voters who supported President Trump. During an interview with CBS News correspondent Julie Watts, she was prompted to address the 40% of Californians who backed Trump, highlighting the importance of winning their support.
In response to a direct query about how she might appeal to those voters, Porter expressed a willingness to connect, stating, “What can I do to win?” When discussing whether she believed she could secure the remaining 60% of California’s voters, she suggested that in a general election scenario, reaching out to those who didn’t vote for Trump could be feasible.
The conversation became tense when Watts asked about how Porter would compete against other Democrats. Porter dismissed that line of questioning, asserting that she has already gained significant popularity. However, when Watts commented that the interview had become “controversial,” Porter seemed irritated, stating she didn’t want to continue in that vein.
In a somewhat abrupt manner, Porter ended the interview, saying, “Thank you,” while looking away from the camera. When pressed about the possibility of further interviews, she firmly stated she wasn’t interested, indicating that follow-up questions felt excessive.
This exchange occurred as Porter led in the governor race, according to an August poll from the University of California, Berkeley, where she garnered 17% support among crowded Democratic contenders. Republican Chad Bianco followed with 10%, while former Democratic Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra had 9% support. The rest of the candidates were below 6%.
Despite her lead, a significant 38% of voters remain undecided about the election, more than double the percentage supporting Porter. The Cook Political Report has classified the California gubernatorial race as “solid Democrat.”
