Katie Porter
Whiteboard-wielding consumer advocate from the U.S. House.
Official campaign site ↗Porter casts the race as a referendum on corporate power and corruption, leaning on the brand she built grilling executives at congressional hearings.
A bankruptcy law scholar and Elizabeth Warren protégée, Porter served three terms in Congress representing Orange County before mounting an unsuccessful 2024 Senate bid. She is one of the most nationally visible Democrats in the field and has built a small-donor fundraising base unmatched by any other Democrat besides Steyer.
- +Highest national name recognition of any Democrat in the field
- +Strong appeal to college-educated suburban voters
- +Fluent on cost-of-living messaging
- −Lost her 2024 Senate primary; some donors view her as untested in a statewide win
- −Limited experience running a large executive operation
- −Cool relations with parts of the labor establishment
Where Porter stands on the eight issues
Housing & Cost of Living
Strongly supportsBacks upzoning, streamlined permitting, and limits on Wall Street ownership of single-family homes. Has criticized 'NIMBY' opposition in coastal cities while pushing rent transparency rules.
Homelessness
SupportsSupports more permanent supportive housing tied to behavioral-health investment and audits of how state homelessness dollars are spent at the local level.
Climate & Environment
Strongly supportsDefends California's 2045 carbon neutrality target and SB 1137 setbacks; favors taxing oil-industry windfall profits to fund a just transition.
Healthcare
SupportsBacks a state public option as a bridge to universal coverage and the use of California's purchasing power to negotiate drug prices. Skeptical that single-payer can be financed in a single budget cycle.
Education
SupportsWants to expand the Cal Grant promise to two free years of community college. Critical of for-profit colleges and predatory student lenders.
Public Safety
MixedSupports retail-theft prosecutions and fentanyl trafficking penalties while pushing police accountability and an end to qualified immunity in state court.
Immigration
Strongly supportsPledges to legally challenge any federal mass-deportation effort and expand California's deportation defense fund.
Economy & Taxes
Strongly supportsWants the AG to use state antitrust authority more aggressively against grocery and health-system mergers; supports a state-level CFPB.
