Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Virginia Kruta.
Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), fresh off her Senate loss to Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), raised some eyebrows with a contentious interview that went viral on Tuesday despite the fact that it first aired in mid-September.
Porter, currently vying for the governorship of California, sat down with CBS reporter Julie Watts to discuss several key issues - and Porter became progressively agitated as Watts dared to ask pointed questions and follow-ups, her reaction suggesting that she was not accustomed to reporters asking her real questions.
WATCH:
The first question was a gimme, as Watts asked Porter what she thought of current Governor Gavin Newsom's (D-CA) plan to redraw the state's congressional districts, and Porter said she was in favor of that. But then Watts asked Porter what her plan was to win over some of the 40% of voters who had voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. California's gubernatorial race utilizes a
"Top-Two" primary system, in which the two candidates with the highest vote totals - regardless of party affiliation - advance to the general election.
"What do you say to the 40% of California voters who you'll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?" Watts asked.
Porter appeared genuinely taken aback by the question:
"How would I need them in order to win, ma'am?"
"Well, unless you think you're going to get 60% of the vote. You think you'll get 60%? Everybody who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?" Watts clarified.
"That's what you're saying?"
"In a general election, yes," Porter insisted.
"If it is me versus a Republican, I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump."
"What if it's you versus another Democrat?" Watts asked.
"I don't intend that to be the case," Porter said.
A longer clip from the interview showed what happened when Watts continued to press Porter on the issue ...
WATCH:
"So how do you intend that not to be the case? Do you - are you going to ask them not to run?" Watts asked, referencing other Democrats in the race.
"No, I'm saying I'm going to build the support, I have the support already in terms of name recognition, and so I'm going to do the very best I can to make sure that we get through this primary in a really strong position," Porter said.
"But let me be clear with you: I represented Orange County. I represented a purple area. I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before. And that's not something that every candidate in this race can say."
She went on to say that other candidates from deep blue areas might not have the same ability to win Republican votes - but Watts kept pressing.
"But you just said you don't need those Trump voters," she said.
"But you asked me if I needed them to win," Porter pointed out.
"So you don't -" Watts pushed back.
Porter put up a hand to stop Watts and complained,
"I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?"
"The question is the same thing I asked everybody," Watts said, showing Porter her notes and adding,
"Every other candidate has answered this question; it's not argumentative. The question is, 'What do you say to the 40% of voters who voted for Trump?'"
"Oh, I'm happy to say that," Porter said.
"It's the 'do you need them to win' part that I don't understand. And I'm happy to answer the question - ask the question as you have it written, and I'll answer it."
"And we've also asked the other candidates, do you think you need any of those 40% of California voters to win, and you're saying no, you don't," Watts continued.
"No, I'm saying I'm going to try to win every vote I can," Porter protested, visibly frustrated.
"And what I'm saying to you is that -"
"Well, to those voters, okay, so you -" Watts attempted one more time.
"I don't want to keep doing this. I'm going to call it," Porter abruptly ended the interview and began fussing with her microphone.
"You're not going to do the interview?" Watts asked, clearly baffled by Porter's behavior.
"Nope, not like this I'm not," Porter declared.
"Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask."
Watts protested,
"Every other candidate has answered follow-ups."
"I don't care!" Porter clapped her hands together once to emphasize her point.
"I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation in which you ask me about every issue on this list. And if every question, you're going to make up a follow-up question, then we're never going to get there ... I have never had to do this before, ever!"
poll#201
Save the elected Republicans, California is becoming well known for creating Clown Car Class politicians at every level of government, which is the single reason why California is a failed one-party state.