California Governor Candidate Threatens to Leave Interview Over ‘Follow-Ups’

Democrat former Rep. Katie Porter, a top contender to become the next governor of California, has gone viral for abruptly threatening to terminate an interview due to “follow-ups” to questions about whether she needs Republican support to win in 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?” CBS’ Julie Watts asks Porter in the interview on her bid to succeed the term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Porter appears to react with instant annoyance, replying, “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?”

In California’s gubernatorial primary, the top two candidates advance to the general election, meaning Porter could face off against another Democrat. In this scenario, winning over Trump supporters could be the difference maker. 

Watts explained multiple times to Porter that she had asked other primary candidates the same exact question.

Trump received over 38% of the vote in California, where Porter is supporting a pro-congressional redistricting ballot measure that has been presented as a way to fight back against Trump-backed redistricting in predominantly Republican states. 

When pressed further on her claim that she would not need Trump supporters to win, Porter raises her hands in front of Watts and says, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?”

Watts again tries to ask Porter the same question, when Porter turns to someone off camera and says “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it.”

She then starts to remove her microphone. 

Watts asks, “You’re not going to keep doing the interview with us?”

“No, not like this I’m not,” says Porter. “Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.”

Porter, who complained that “I’ve never had to do this before” again threatens to leave after saying, “I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera.”

An August poll from Emerson College Polling found Porter leading gubernatorial primary field with 18% support among California voters, with Republican candidates Steve Hilton trailing at 12%, and Chad Bianco at 7%. Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa is a distant fourth with 5% support in the survey.

A 38% plurality is undecided in the crowded primary, which will come to a head on June 2, 2026.

This article has been edited to clarify that Porter ultimately did not leave the interview.

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