The battle for governor of California is heating up, and it isn’t even waiting for former vice president Kamala Harris to decide. On Tuesday, incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom’s term limits prevented him from seeking reelection, but former Democratic Representative Katie Porter, who served three terms representing Orange County in the United States House, declared her intention to compete for the office.
Former state senator Toni Atkins, former controller Betty Yee, former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and now Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis are all in the same boat as Porter. Last year, in the state’s top primary for a vacant US Senate seat, which Adam Schiff eventually won, Porter finished a dismal third.
Using a white board for computations during congressional committee hearings, Porter—who was a protégé of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and a former law student—often went viral; her video announcement included a similar element.
The centerpiece of Porter’s introduction video is centered around national politics, with images of Trump, Musk, Vance, Johnson, and McConnell featured prominently. A less restrictive immigration policy, combating corruption, global warming, and exorbitant prices are all themes that run through her screenplay and accompanying images.
“All California needs right now is a smidgen of optimism and an abundance of determination,” remarks Porter. “When Trump harms Californians, I, as governor, will never budge.”
In light of the protracted period of restoration and cleanup following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Porter brings up the topic of his efforts to secure higher wages for firefighters during his time in Congress. She also claims to be against “Big Oil, Big Banks or Big Pharma screwing people over” and to be dedicated to “abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights,” indicating that her victory in the election would largely depend on the Democratic nominee who receives the most votes.
All of that could change, though, if Harris chooses to run for president. Those close to her have suggested that she should decide by summer so that she has time to present a comprehensive case for why she wants the job, rather than being seen as merely seeking consolation for her loss last year. Whether she should run for the Sacramento office next year or for president again in 2028 is still a contentious issue among her friends and advisers.
The former vice president and senator from California is not included in the figures that her team is attempting to highlight since Porter, who stated in December that Harris’s entry would likely have a “field-clearing effect,” is continuing to hold that position even as she begins her race. Notably absent from her campaign’s tally of probable Democratic candidates is Harris, despite her assertion that a poll has her in the best position of any “likely” contenders.
“She probably won’t run against anyone else, including Kamala,” an aide to Porter told AWN.
