Contentious Campaigning for California’s Next Governor

The race for California’s governorship is getting a bit turbulent.

Katie Porter, a candidate and current congresswoman, has found herself back in the news as tales of her tumultuous past, including an incident where she allegedly hurled mashed potatoes at her ex-husband during a disagreement, resurface. Amid a flurry of online discussion about her temperament, she’s facing scrutiny from her previous marriage.

In 2013, her then-husband, Matthew Hoffman, filed for divorce, laying bare some troubling details. Reports suggested that Porter was known for her harsh words, claiming she often verbally abused him and even threw “toys, books, and other objects” during their time together, according to prior reports.

Hoffman claimed that she even sought a restraining order against her “easily angered” spouse, stating that she consistently belittled him with names like “stupid” and “incompetent.” An episode in March 2012, where she shattered a glass coffee pot due to perceived untidiness in the home, further illustrated the volatile atmosphere he experienced.

Porter, age 51, has made headlines recently, particularly after videos showcasing her intense interactions—one of which featured her sharply criticizing a former staffer—went viral. Hoffman even mentioned that during altercations, Porter would scratch him and blame him for her actions. He recounted how their children had begun mimicking those derogatory comments towards him, leading to unsettling family dynamics.

In one particularly striking episode from 2006, Hoffman claimed that Porter became irate over his mashed potato preparation—scoffing, “Can’t you read the instructions?” He asserted that she responded by throwing a bowl of hot mashed potatoes at him, leaving him burned and shocked.

Porter has previously portrayed herself as a “victim of domestic violence” in her political journey, often emphasizing her experiences as a single parent. Now, she is in the thick of her campaign to succeed the term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in the upcoming election on November 3rd.