Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) appears to be stepping away from electoral politics after losing consecutive bids for the U.S. Senate and California governor.

Porter, who finished fifth in the state’s gubernatorial race, told the Sacramento Bee that she does not expect to seek office again.

“I am closing the door on being a candidate,” Porter said in a Friday interview.

“I cannot foresee that path back,” she added.

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Porter Lost Senate and Governor’s Races

Porter left her House seat to run for the Senate seat previously held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

She received more than one million votes in California’s 2024 nonpartisan primary but failed to advance past Republican Steve Garvey and eventual winner Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).

According to the California secretary of state, Porter finished third with 1.27 million votes, or 17.2% of the electorate.

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Her performance fell sharply in the subsequent governor’s race.

Porter finished fifth in 2025 with 403,908 votes, representing 4.4% of the electorate, according to certified state results.

Campaigns Marred by Staff Controversies

Both campaigns were overshadowed by reports about Porter’s treatment of staff members and her conduct during interviews.

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During her Senate campaign, Porter faced allegations that she mistreated employees, including a staff member who contracted COVID-19.

Texts showed Porter telling the employee, “you gave me Covid,” and saying that her “children have nobody to care for them.”

Porter denied firing the staffer over the incident.

“I regret if this employee feels disgruntled,” she said.

The allegations resurfaced during Porter’s gubernatorial campaign when leaked video showed her screaming at another staffer who entered the camera frame.

“GET OUT OF MY F***ING SHOT,” Porter shouted in the viral clip.

Porter also drew criticism after abruptly ending a video interview with a local reporter.

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Porter Plans to Focus on Books and Social Media

The controversies coincided with a significant decline in Porter’s electoral support between the Senate and gubernatorial races.

After attracting more than 1.2 million votes in 2024, she received fewer than 404,000 in the governor’s race.

Porter told the Sacramento Bee that she now plans to focus on making social media posts about books rather than pursuing another campaign.

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Her remarks signal the likely end of a political career that once made her one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent progressive figures in California.

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