Support for Katie Porter’s 2026 campaign for California governor has dwindled significantly after a viral incident, a recent survey reveals. The former congresswoman’s popularity took a hit following an altercation during a televised interview.

According to the latest poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, Porter’s backing has dropped from 17 percent in August to a mere 11 percent. These findings were published earlier this week.

The polling occurred between October 20 and 27, in the wake of Porter’s contentious exchange with CBS California journalist Julia Watts. This incident wasn’t the only one affecting her image; a past video of Porter reprimanding a staff member during a 2021 call with officials from the Biden administration has also resurfaced.

The survey indicates a shift in public perception, with 33 percent of voters now holding an unfavorable view of Porter, while only 26 percent view her positively.

Meanwhile, Republican Chad Bianco, the Sheriff of Riverside County, has emerged as the front-runner, securing 13 percent support.

Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco now leads the field with 13 percent support.

However, the race remains wide open, with 44 per cent of voters still undecided.

Porter remains the top Democratic contender, but the poll indicates her campaign may need to rebuild momentum following the controversy.

Former Congresswoman Katie Porter has seen a noticeable drop in support for her 2026 California gubernatorial bid after video of her lashing out during a TV interview went viral

The former congresswoman has faced accusations for years that she was a difficult boss or was abusive to employees during her time in Congress

During the exchange with Watts, Porter pushed back against questions about appealing to Trump voters and criticized the tone of the interview as ‘unnecessarily argumentative.’

In the now-viral conversation, Porter was being probed about current Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats – and what she would say to California Trump voters whom Watts said she will ‘need to win.’

Porter seemed to disagree as she furrowed her brow and asked: ‘How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?’

Watts stood her ground.

‘Unless you think you’re going to get 60 percent of the vote. You think you’ll get 60 percent? Everyone who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?’ the reporter asked.

‘If it is me versus a Republican? I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump,’ Porter said, after laughing at Watts’ initial question.

The reporter then pointed out that California’s electoral system involves a primary in which several candidates from all parties compete, with the top two candidates moving on to the general election.

With that in mind, Porter was pressed on what would happen if her general election opponent was another Democrat.

The day after her interview, a video from 2021 resurfaced showing Porter sharply reprimanding a staffer during a virtual meeting with a Biden administration official 

‘I don’t intend that to be the case,’ she responded.

Watts then questioned how Porter could be sure that a Democrat-on-Democrat general wouldn’t happen.

The question prompted the former congresswoman to get increasingly annoyed, as she said she would build support and cited her experience representing Orange County in Congress, which is a swing district.

‘But you just said you don’t need those Trump voters,’ Watts retorted.

With that, Porter finally began to crack, starting to gesture with her hands and questioning Watts’ interview.

‘Well you asked me if I needed them to win. I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative, what is your question?’

At that point, Watts returned to the original question of wanting to know what Porter would say to Trump voters who were against Newsom’s redistricting efforts.

‘I’m happy to say that, it’s the “do you need them to win” part that I don’t understand,’ the Democrat responded.

Porter also lamented in the video that she had not yet visited the White House despite raising a ‘s**t ton’ of money for former President Joe Biden’s campaign

A new poll showed that 33 percent of voters viewing Porter unfavorably compared to 26 percent favorably.

She ultimately became fed up with the questions.

‘I don’t want to keep doing this, I want to call it. Thank you,’ she said, suggesting she was about to walk out.

‘You’re not going to do the interview with us?’ Watts asked.

‘Nope, not like this, I’m not,’ Porter replied. ‘Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.’

Watts said that ‘every single candidate’ had gone through a similar interview, with Porter responding: ‘I don’t care.’

‘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 gonna make up a follow up question, we’re never going to get there,’ Porter continued.

Porter indignantly claimed she ‘never had to do this before’ as she was daring herself to walk out on Watts, who again pointed out that every other candidate had done the same interview.

‘I’m me. I’m running for governor because I’m a leader, so I am going to make-‘ she said before Watts asked: ‘So you’re not going to answer interview questions from reporters?’

Porter remains the top Democratic contender, but the poll indicates her campaign may need to rebuild momentum

Watts then tried to bring the interview back to her list of questions, but Porter refused.

‘I don’t want to have a negative experience with you and I don’t want this all on camera,’ Porter said.

Watts agreed that she didn’t want to have a negative experience either, but she would ‘love to continue to ask these questions so that we can show our viewers what every candidate feels about every one of these issues that they care about and redistricting is a massive issue.’

The clip was blasted across social media and pounced on by Porter’s electoral rivals on both sides.

The day after her exchange with Watts, a video from 2021 resurfaced showing Porter sharply reprimanding a staffer during a virtual meeting with a Biden administration official. 

Porter had recorded a meeting with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support the Biden administration in July 2021.

An unedited version of the video showed that several minutes into the conversation, a female staffer wearing a facemask ducked into view and a few minutes later could be seen rifling through some items in the background.

‘Get out of my f***ing shot,’ Porter yelled as she noticed the aide, who said she simply wanted to correct something the congresswoman had said about electric vehicles.

Porter later acknowledged that her conduct toward the staff member was ‘inappropriate’ and admitted she could have handled the situation more effectively

‘OK,’ Porter replies, clearly irritated. ‘You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot.’

Later on in the video call, in which Porter touted the Biden administration’s climate agenda and promoted electric vehicles, the then-congresswoman reportedly also complained to Granholm that she had not yet visited the White House despite raising a ‘s**t ton’ of money for Biden.

‘Never been there,’ she lamented. ‘Some of my colleagues [have been] there three, four times. I don’t fit in the photo-op for some reason.’

She also moaned about being out of touch with Biden officials.

‘I’m like the least in-connection with the White House member of Congress,’ Porter reportedly said, prompting Granholm to try to assuage her.

‘That is not true,’ the then-Energy Secretary could be heard saying, according to Politico.

The final, edited version of the webinar that was published by the Department of Energy, did not include the exchanges.

Porter later acknowledged that her conduct toward the staff member was ‘inappropriate’ and admitted she could have handled the situation more effectively.