Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, under fire for recently emerged videos showing her scolding a reporter and swearing at an aide, expressed remorse for her behavior on Tuesday in her first public remarks since the incidents were publicized.
Porter, a former House member from Orange County and a top candidate in California’s 2026 governor’s race, said she “could have handled things better.”
“I think I’m known as someone who’s able to handle tough questions, who’s willing to answer questions,” Porter told Nikki Laurenzo, host of Inside California Politics and anchor on Fox40 in Sacramento. “I want people to know that I really value the incredible work that my staff can do. I think people who know me know I can be tough. But I need to do a better job expressing appreciation for the amazing work my team does.”
Last week, a video emerged of Porter telling a separate television reporter that she doesn’t need the support of the millions of Californians who voted for President Trump, and brusquely threatening to end the interview because the reporter asked follow-up questions. The following day, a second video emerged of Porter telling a young staffer, “Get out of my f— shot!” while videoconferencing with a member of then-President Biden’s Cabinet in 2021.
Porter on Tuesday said she had apologized to the staffer. She repeatedly sidestepped Laurenzo’s questions about whether other videos could emerge.
About a dozen people at a watch party on Oct. 14, 2025, at Tulum OC, a Mexican restaurant in Anaheim, of a virtual discussion between members of the California Working Families Party and former Rep. Katie Porter.
(Seema Mehta / Los Angeles Times)
“What I can tell you … is that I am taking responsibility for the situation,” Porter said.
Porter’s behavior in the videos underscored long-standing questions about her temperament and high staff turnover while she served in Congress.
The most recent polls showed that Porter held a narrow lead in the competitive race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is serving his second and final term. After the videos emerged last week, several of Porter’s rivals criticized her behavior, including former state Controller Betty Yee, who said she should drop out of the race.
On Tuesday, Yee argued that Porter’s temperament could imperil Democrats’ efforts to pass Proposition 50, the Nov. 4 ballot measure to redraw congressional districts in California to boost their party’s numbers in the House.
Yee, a former vice chair of the state Democratic Party, warned that a Republican could potentially win the governor’s race and Democrats could lose the U.S. House of Representatives because of Porter’s “demeanor.”
“I don’t relish picking a fight, and it’s not even a fight,” Yee said during a virtual news conference. “I’m doing what’s best for this party.”
Porter also addressed the issue Tuesday night when it was the first question she was asked during a virtual discussion with the progressive California Working Families Party, which will consider making an endorsement in the gubernatorial race next year.
She reiterated what she said during the earlier television interview.
“I absolutely understand that I could have been better in those moments,” Porter said. “I’m going to hold myself to that standard, to do better and to acknowledge that I fell short.”
About 1,000 Californians had RSVP’d to watch the program, and watch parties were held around the state. About a dozen people gathered at a Mexican restaurant in Anaheim, not far from Porter’s former congressional district, nibbling on taquitos and camarones a la diabla as they watched Porter answer questions.
Afterward, they seemed more concerned about some of Porter’s policy remarks, such as not supporting statewide rent control, than her response to the videos.
“I know that she has issues with training her staff and clearly reporters a certain way, but I’m more concerned with what she will do in terms of policy. How civil is her policy going to be?” said Sebastian, a Santa Ana resident who declined to give his last name and works in the energy field. “Maybe she’s not very civil as a person, but it’s far more important that we have things like rent control, protection for immigrant communities and that she stands up to the current federal administration than anything else.”
Jacob Daruvala, 29, who works part time on the party’s effort supporting Proposition 50, said he appreciated that Porter apologized.
“I’m not sure there’s much more we can ask,” the Norco resident said. “I want to give her a little bit of leeway, because I have happily worked for other politicians who are not so nice to staff, but when their policies create a kinder world in general, I’m generally willing to look over that.”
Before her remarks on Tuesday, Porter had released one statement about the 2021 video, saying, “It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a high standard, and that was especially true as a member of Congress. I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work.”
The UC Irvine law professor has not responded to multiple interview requests from The Times.
Mehta reported from Anaheim and Smith from Sacramento.
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