Katie Porter has announced she is stepping away from politics after a disappointing finish in California's gubernatorial primary, marking an end to her current involvement in campaigning. Porter revealed her decision on Wednesday, stating in a social media post, "I'm done for now with politics and campaigning."
Porter, who represented California in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025, failed to advance to the general election in the state's crowded top-two primary. She secured fifth place with 4.4% of the vote, receiving approximately 403,908 votes.
Her announcement comes after a gubernatorial campaign that saw renewed scrutiny of her temperament and management style. An unedited video from 2021 resurfaced late in the campaign, showing Porter berating a staffer during a virtual meeting. The incident, which quickly went viral, reignited questions about her treatment of aides. Porter later apologized for the outburst publicly and privately.
Another viral moment during the campaign occurred when Porter appeared visibly irritated and admonished a CBS Sacramento investigative reporter during an interview. These incidents amplified prior criticisms regarding her management of staff during her tenure in Congress, which consistently showed high staff turnover rates. Leaked text messages from 2022 also revealed instances of harsh reprimands.
Porter, who is also a full-time law professor at UC Irvine, plans to rebrand her Instagram account as @katieporterturnsthepage. The account, previously focused on politics, will now center on her interest in books and reading. She described herself as a "fast reader" and indicated that her new focus will be on literature rather than political endeavors.
While Porter stated she is "done for now with politics," the long-term permanence of her political retirement remains to be seen. However, following her unsuccessful bid for higher office and the controversies that accompanied it, she is shifting her focus away from electoral campaigns.