LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. House Representative Katie Porter officially entered the race for California governor in 2026 on Tuesday, joining a crowded field of contenders. This race could become even more competitive if former Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run.
Porter, who gained widespread recognition through her sharp questioning of CEOs during congressional hearings using a whiteboard, pledged in her campaign launch video to be a strong opponent to President Donald Trump’s administration. She emphasized that she would stand up for Californians, especially as the state has had numerous disagreements with the White House on issues such as water management and immigrant rights.
“In Congress, I held the Trump administration accountable when they hurt Americans. As governor, I won’t back down when Trump hurts Californians — whether he’s blocking disaster relief, attacking our rights and communities, or using working families to benefit himself and his allies,” Porter stated.
The race to replace term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has already drawn a large group of candidates, though the field could shift if Harris decides to seek the governorship. Harris, who left Washington after her failed presidential run, has not ruled out entering the race. Porter, who has a friendly relationship with the former vice president, has indicated that she would step aside if Harris runs. Harris appointed Porter as California’s independent bank monitor in a nationwide mortgage settlement in 2012.
Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney noted, “If Harris joins the race, there are very few politicians who would want to challenge her. She’d likely secure the Democratic nomination, and Democrats are expected to win the governorship.”
Porter, who ran for U.S. Senate last year without success, is known for her strong fundraising abilities and her prominence in the political scene. She now joins former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, among other Democratic hopefuls, in the race.
Given California's strong Democratic majority — with nearly twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans — the seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands. The GOP has not won a statewide election in California in nearly 20 years.
On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco became the first major GOP candidate to announce his bid to replace Newsom, blaming Democrats for the state’s homelessness crisis and high housing costs. Bianco stated that Porter is “cut from the same cloth as the failed career politicians who created California’s cost-of-living crisis.”
Even with Harris potentially entering the race, California’s open primary system makes the outcome unpredictable. All candidates, regardless of party, appear on a single ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. This could open the door for Trump-aligned GOP candidates or wealthy challengers who could shake up the expected political dynamics.
“These open primaries are hard to predict,” said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta. “It just makes things less clear.”
Porter, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies, is positioning herself as a fierce leader at a time when some national Democrats are suggesting a more cautious approach to the Republican-controlled government. She wrote in an email to supporters, “It’s no secret, Democrats are down right now. The vibes suck. Our party, and the movement against Trump, desperately needs leadership... and a willingness to be fierce.”
Though Porter’s comments during her 2024 Senate loss sparked online backlash, including claims of “rigged” elections, she later clarified that she did not believe the California vote count was compromised. However, she still stood by her criticism, claiming that "rigged" referred to manipulation by dishonest means.
Since leaving Congress in January, Porter has focused on fundraising and teaching law at the University of California, Irvine. As a consumer protection attorney before her congressional career, she became well-known for her sharp interrogations of corporate leaders, often using her whiteboard to simplify complex financial figures while criticizing corporate greed.
First elected to Congress in 2018, Porter said in her campaign video, “I ran for office to hold Trump accountable. I feel that same call to serve now to stop him from hurting Californians.”
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