Katie Porter Bows Out of Politics After Gubernatorial Flop and Staff Abuse Backlash

Katie Porter is done with politics after a failed California governor campaign that ended in humiliation and reignited criticism over her treatment of staff.

The former congresswoman declared on Instagram, “I’m done for now with politics and campaigning,” signaling a retreat from public life.

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Porter, who failed to advance from California's recent gubernatorial primary, is rebranding her Instagram to @katieporterturnsthepage, shifting focus from politics to her passion for reading.

This announcement caps a chaotic chapter for the Democrat, whose campaign was overshadowed by scrutiny of her temperament and management style.

In California's crowded top-two primary, Porter finished fifth, garnering 403,908 votes, which accounted for 4.4% of the total, according to unofficial returns from the California Secretary of State.

Only the top two candidates advance to the general election under California's primary system, leaving Porter out of the November race despite competing against 61 candidates.

As her campaign faltered, a 2021 video resurfaced in late 2025, showing Porter berating a staffer who accidentally entered the frame during a virtual meeting with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. “Get out of my f-ing shot!” she shouted.

The clip went viral, reigniting longstanding concerns about her treatment of aides.

Porter later apologized for the outburst, addressing it publicly at a Sacramento forum and again during a televised gubernatorial debate.

Following this incident, another viral moment occurred when Porter became visibly irritated during an interview with a CBS Sacramento investigative reporter. She scolded the journalist and threatened to end the interview, stating she did not want an “unhappy experience.”

These incidents fueled complaints that had plagued Porter throughout her congressional tenure.

Capitol Hill records indicated she had one of the highest staff turnover rates in the House. Leaked text messages from 2022 revealed she harshly reprimanded a colleague over concerns that person had exposed her to COVID-19.

Porter served in the House from 2019 through 2025 and remains a law professor at UC Irvine, where she has been on faculty since 2011.

The permanence of her political retirement is uncertain. After a failed bid for higher office and a series of controversies, Porter claims she’s putting campaigns behind her, at least for now.