Porter launches California governor bid ‘to hold Trump accountable’
Former Representative Katie Porter has launched her campaign for California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, stating her intent to run is to hold former President Donald Trump accountable. Porter emerged as a prominent candidate following her recent loss in the California Senate Democratic primary and has positioned herself as a leading figure among the contenders. She emphasizes her commitment to opposing Trump, highlighting issues such as disaster relief delays and the impact of his policies on working families.
In her announcement,Porter expressed a desire to protect Californians from Trump’s actions,stating,”I won’t ever back down when Trump hurts Californians.” Recent internal polling indicates that she has strong support among Democratic and independent voters, considerably ahead of her closest competitors. However, the potential entry of former Vice President Kamala Harris into the race could alter the dynamics, as polls suggest Harris would be favored by manny voters if she decides to run. Porter has indicated she would withdraw if Harris joins the race.
Having first been elected to Congress in 2018, Porter flipped a Republican seat and has experience in law and politics. She spent considerable funds during her Senate campaign and previously faced criticism for her claims about election integrity. After her Senate bid, she returned to academia but is now focused on her gubernatorial aspirations.
Katie Porter launches bid for California governor ‘to hold Trump accountable’
Former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat, announced her bid for California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, saying she feels called to run “to hold Trump accountable.”
Porter is the most well-known candidate among half a dozen contenders, having recently lost the 2024 California Senate Democratic primary to Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
“I first ran for office to hold Trump accountable,” Porter said in her announcement posted on X. “I feel that same call to serve now to stop him from hurting Californians.”
Porter is centering her campaign on opposing President Donald Trump, a strategy she has employed since first running for Congress in 2018.
“As governor, I won’t ever back down when Trump hurts Californians, whether it’s holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights and our communities, or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies,” Porter said.
Internal polling released by Porter’s campaign shows she is favored by 36% of Democratic and independent voters, 28 points ahead of her closest rivals, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
However, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who set a deadline to decide her next move at the end of the summer, could enter the California governor’s race.
Polling suggests that if Harris were to enter the race, 57% of voters would prefer the former vice president.
Porter said she would bow out of the race if Harris were to run for governor.
In her bid for the Senate, Porter finished third in the primary vote behind Schiff and Republican nominee Steve Garvey. California has an open primary, meaning the top candidates will advance to the general election regardless of their party affiliation.
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Porter, who spent $31 million in her Senate race, was targeted by cryptocurrency executives during the 2024 campaign. She called the election “rigged” by billionaires, drawing criticism for echoing Trump’s 2020 allegations of election interference.
Porter was first elected to Congress in 2018 and served for six years. She flipped a Republican-held seat that year, but after losing her bid for the Senate, Porter returned to teaching law at the University of California, Irvine.
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