One of the basic obligations for a politician, especially one running to be the governor of California, is to be able to meet with the press and answer simple questions. For Katie Porter, she failed that obligation miserably and deserves a big “F” on her over-used white board.
It may be hard to fathom that someone running for governor can have such a huge meltdown during a simple interview, but for those who have known Katie Porter, it is no surprise at all. Porter has a long history of belittling her staff and employees, throwing shade at her fellow elected democrats, abuse of her ex-husband, and more. The only difference this time is that the public got to see first hand what her peers and staff have long known, that Katie Porter is unfit and unhinged.
As I stated in an op-ed when Porter was running for the Senate, she built her brand around being a minivan driving, single mom. But the truth of the matter is she’s a boarding school, Harvard, and Yale grad. Porter has been given more choices and more privilege than virtually everyone else. Her everywoman act is a fake, just like Porter.
You can’t help but laugh during the mega meltdown when she says, “I’m running because I am a leader.” If you look up any definition of leadership, it is impossible to see those attributes on display by Porter. In fact, it is just the opposite. In her meltdown interview, she showed you who she truly is: an arrogant, self-entitled, ego driven narcissist.
And if you thought she was unqualified to be elected to the U.S. Senate, imagine her as the governor of the 4th largest economy in the world? It would be an utter catastrophe for California. Just imagine someone who can’t manage a campaign staff, mismanaging hundreds of thousands of government employees. California businesses and their jobs would be running for the exit.
While we have many qualified candidates other than Porter running for the job, none have been able to consolidate the field. Last night’s interview is yet another example in a long history showing Katie Porter should not be governor and should hold no elected office. I join the voices of sensible Californians who call on Senator Alex Padilla to answer this moment and save our state from the possibility of a disastrous Katie Porter reign.
But whoever you vote for to be the next governor of California, I encourage you to vote for anyone other than Porter, who has made it clear to everyone that she is unfit for the job.
Harley Rouda served in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021.