After months of speculation, former Rep. Katie Porter announced Tuesday that she is running for California governor to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Porter, a Democrat who represented Orange County in Congress for three terms, launched her campaign in a video posted to social media, casting herself as a fighter who will stand up to President Donald Trump and corporate interests.
Related Articles
California and Bay Area refugees urge Trump to reconsider resettlement limits
Conservative Southern California sheriff announces governor run in 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta will run for reelection, not for governor, in 2026
When VP Kamala Harris comes home: Running for governor seems like a no-brainer, but does she want it?
“Extreme fire behavior” expected in Los Angeles as fires rage
“What California needs now is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit. Fresh blood and new ideas. Leaders with the backbone to fight for what’s right,” Porter said in the video. “As governor, I won’t ever back down when Trump hurts Californians — whether he’s holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights or our communities or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies.”
Newsom is ineligible to run in 2026 due to term limits. His second and final term ends in January 2027, leaving the governor’s seat wide open in the next election. The primary is set for June 2, 2026, with the general election on Nov. 3.
Porter first won office in 2018, flipping a Republican congressional seat in Orange County in a year where county voters sent all Democrats to Washington. She gained national recognition for her aggressive questioning of Trump administration officials and corporate executives, often using a whiteboard to break down complex issues.
“As governor, I’ll bring all voices to the table to hear new ideas no matter who they come from or what else we may agree or disagree on,” Porter said. “I’ve only ever been motivated by one thing: making Californians’ lives better. And I’ll go toe to toe with anyone who tries to hurt Californians.”
Since leaving Congress in January after an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, Porter has returned to teaching at UC Irvine Law.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
