Katie Porter is closing the book on electoral politics after a punishing run for California governor that ended in defeat and brought renewed attention to longstanding complaints about how she managed her staff.
The former Democratic congresswoman from California said Wednesday that she is retreating from public life, writing to her Instagram followers: “I’m done for now with politics and campaigning.”
Porter, who did not make it through California’s latest gubernatorial primary, also announced a new direction for her social media presence, saying her Instagram account will be renamed @katieporterturnsthepage in a nod to her well-known passion for books.
Describing herself as a “fast reader,” Porter said the account will shift away from campaign updates and political commentary and instead center on reading.
The move marks a turbulent closing chapter for Porter’s political career, as her bid for governor was increasingly consumed by questions about her temperament and leadership style.
Porter placed fifth in California’s crowded top-two primary, drawing 403,908 votes, or 4.4%, according to unofficial returns from the California Secretary of State.
California’s primary rules allow only the two leading vote-getters to move on to the general election, leaving Porter out of the November contest despite competing in a field of 61 candidates.
As her campaign faltered, an unedited 2021 video resurfaced in late 2025 showing Porter sharply scolding a staffer who inadvertently appeared in the background during a virtual meeting with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
“Get out of my f-ing shot!” Porter shouted.
The video quickly went viral and reignited longstanding questions about her treatment of aides.
Porter later publicly and privately apologized for the outburst, addressing it at a Sacramento public forum and again during a televised gubernatorial debate.
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The controversy was followed by another viral moment when Porter grew visibly irritated during an interview with a CBS Sacramento investigative reporter, scolding the journalist and threatening to end the interview because she did not want to have an “unhappy experience.”
Those incidents added fuel to complaints that had followed Porter throughout her time in Congress.
Capitol Hill records consistently showed she had one of the highest staff turnover rates in the House, while leaked 2022 text messages revealed she harshly reprimanded a fellow over concerns the person had exposed her to COVID-19.
Porter represented California in the House from 2019 through 2025 and remains a full-time law professor at UC Irvine, where she first joined the faculty in 2011.
Whether her political retirement is permanent remains an open question.
But after a failed bid for higher office and a series of headline-grabbing controversies, Porter says she’s putting campaigns behind her, at least for now.
