Katie Porter

Katherine Moore Porter (born January 3, 1974) is an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2019 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Porter graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School and has taught law at several universities, including the University of California, Irvine, the William S. Boyd School of Law, and the University of Iowa. She was elected as part of a Democratic wave in Orange County, flipping the 45th district. In 2022, after redistricting, she was reelected in the 47th congressional district. In the House, she was deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and received media attention for her questioning during congressional hearings but was scrutinized after reports that she had created toxic conditions for her staff.

In 2023, Porter announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate, forgoing reelection to the House of Representatives. She was defeated after failing to advance from the nonpartisan primary won by Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey. She is currently a candidate for governor of California for the 2026 election.

Early life and education

Porter was born on January 3, 1974, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She grew up on a farm in southern Iowa. Her father, Dan Porter, was a farmer and banker. Her mother, Liz, was a founder of '' Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting''.

After graduating from Phillips Academy, Porter attended Yale University, where she majored in American studies, graduating in 1996. Her undergraduate thesis was titled ''The Effects of Corporate Farming on Rural Community''. She was a member of Grace Hopper College (then called Calhoun College) at Yale. Porter also interned for Chuck Grassley during this time.

Porter later attended Harvard Law School, where she was the notes editor for the ''Harvard Women's Law Journal'' and a member of the Board of Student Advisers. She studied under bankruptcy law professor and future U.S. senator Elizabeth Warren, and graduated ''magna cum laude'' with her Juris Doctor in 2001.

Career

Porter was a law clerk for Judge Richard S. Arnold of the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in Little Rock, Arkansas. She practiced with the law firm of Stoel Rives LLP in Portland, Oregon, and was the project director for the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges' Business Bankruptcy Project.

Porter was an associate professor of law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Law. In 2005, she joined the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Law as an associate professor, becoming a full professor there in 2011. Also in 2011, she became a tenured professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

In 2008, Porter testified before the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit alongside then-Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Warren on a proposed Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, which was later signed into law.

In March 2012, California attorney general Kamala Harris appointed Porter to be the state's independent monitor of banks in a nationwide $25 billion mortgage settlement. As monitor, she oversaw the banks' implementation of $9.5 billion in settlement reforms for Californians. In 2015, Porter consulted for Ocwen. Porter's 2016 textbook ''Modern Consumer Law'' addresses consumer laws in light of Dodd–Frank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Porter served as one of three co-chairs of Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential campaign.

Elections

U.S. House of Representatives

2018

In April 2017, Democrat Katie Porter announced her candidacy for Congress in California's 45th congressional district against two-term Republican incumbent Mimi Walters. In May 2018, Politico reported that Democrats were confident they would oust Walters, given that Hillary Clinton carried the 45th District in 2016, with Porter stating that "Orange County families are very concerned about what Donald Trump is doing" and "Mimi Walters votes with Trump over and over and over again." Porter advanced to the primary in June 2018.

Katie Porter faced off against Walters in the general election on November 6, 2018. Walters led at the end of election night, but in the following days, as more ballots were tabulated, Porter gained votes and eventually overtook Walters. Walters alleged unsubstantiated voter fraud by Democrats, claiming they sought to “steal” her seat.

On November 15, 2018, the Associated Press called the race for Porter, marking the first Democratic victory in the district since its 1953 creation. Following her win, Porter pledged to reform campaign finance laws and highlighted her refusal of corporate PAC donations in her campaign. Porter's win contributed to a wave for Democrats in Orange County that saw them flip four seats centered in the county, resulting in Democratic control of all seven seats including the historically Republican County.

2020

Porter ran for reelection to a second term. She advanced from the top-two primary in first place and faced off against the second-place finisher, Republican Mission Viejo mayor Greg Raths, in the general election. Porter won with 53.5% of the vote to Raths's 46.5%.

2022

Porter was reelected in California's 47th congressional district, defeating Republican nominee Scott Baugh with 51.6% of the vote to Baugh's 48.4%.

2024 United States Senate campaign

On January 10, 2023, Porter announced her candidacy in the 2024 election for the U.S. Senate from California. The announcement came before the incumbent, Dianne Feinstein, had announced whether she would seek reelection. Porter's timing was viewed as disrespectful. Porter raised over $1 million in donations in the 24 hours after announcing her candidacy, with an average donation of $38. Her supporters formed a super PAC called Women Have Initiative To Elect, Boost, and Organize for A Real Democrat (WHITEBOARD).

Her major opponents in the campaign were Democrat Adam Schiff, a centrist congressman, Republican Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player, and Democrat Barbara Lee, a progressive congresswoman.

During the campaign, Porter's campaign offered her extensive fundraising list of phone numbers and email addresses for sale to interested parties.

Porter failed to advance from the March 5 nonpartisan primary, finishing third; Schiff and Garvey advanced to the November general election. With at least 99% of votes counted, Porter trailed Schiff and Garvey by between 800,000 and 1.2 million votes, with Porter failing to lead in any county. The loss ensured that Porter, who did not seek reelection to her House seat, would leave Congress by January 2025.

After her loss in the primary, Porter said the election had been "rigged" against her. She claimed that the "rigging" criticism referred to Schiff's campaign and allies raising and spending $11 million in the nonpartisan primary to boost a Republican candidate and knock her out of the general election. Her use of the word "rigged" triggered backlash from some Democrats, who condemned her language for echoing former president Trump's refusal to accept his 2020 loss. Porter later expressed regret, saying, "I wish I had chosen a different word." She made clear that her assertions about the "rigging" were not related to counting of votes or the election process, which she called "beyond reproach". Porter said: "That is a dishonest means to manipulate the outcome. I said 'rigged by billionaires' and our politics are in fact manipulated by big dark money. Defending democracy means calling that out."

2026 California Governor campaign

On March 11, 2025, Porter announced that she would be entering the gubernatorial race to become California's next governor. In her announcemen
video
Porter stated, “I first ran for office to hold Trump accountable. I feel that same call to serve now to stop him from hurting Californians."

Tenure

House of Representatives

In June 2019, Porter became one of the first Democrats in a swing district to support an impeachment inquiry following Robert Mueller's Special Counsel investigation. She voted for both the first and second impeachments of Donald Trump.

In January 2021, Porter was removed from the Financial Services Committee after opting to serve instead on the House Natural Resources and House Oversight committees. On the Oversight committee, Porter participated in an investigation into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s test standards for children's car seats and boosters side-impact.

, Porter had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 98.2% of the time.

Hearings

During Trump's first presidency, Porter gained notice for her pointed questioning of public officials and business leaders during congressional hearings, often using visual aids such as whiteboards. In March 2019, she questioned Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan, arguing that he contradicted his lawyers' "corporate puffery". In April 2019, she questioned JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. In May 2019, she asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson about "REOs", real estate owned properties. She questioned Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Kathy Kraninger on basic math problems about annual percentage rates on payday loans, which Kraninger declined to answer. In March 2020, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert R. Redfield committed to free COVID-19 testing during questioning by Porter.

At an August 24, 2020, congressional hearing, Porter questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. He admitted to her that he did not know the cost of mailing a postcard or a smaller greeting card, the starting rate for U.S. Priority Mail, or how many Americans voted by mail in the 2016 elections. In a December 2020 House hearing, she questioned United States Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin over COVID-19 relief funding.

Toxic workplace allegations

In January 2023, ''Politico'' reported on criticism that Porter was "allegedly a terrible—according to some accounts, abusive and racist—boss." The accusations include allegations that she used racist language and "ridiculed people for reporting sexual harassment".

The ''Washington Post'' interviewed eight former employees on condition of anonymity about their experiences working for Porter. The staffers described her as domineering and recounted multiple examples of her mistreatment of staffers, including instances where she berated staffers until they cried. In response to the allegations that she created a toxic workplace, Porter defended herself on ''The View'' in April 2023 by comparing herself to women of color who are discriminated against.

Committee assignments

For the 116th Congress:

* Committee on Oversight and Reform
** Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs

For the 117th Congress:

* Committee on Natural Resources
* Committee on Oversight and Accountability

For the 118th Congress:
* Committee on Natural Resources
** Subcommittee on Federal Lands
** Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
* Committee on Oversight and Accountability
** Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services (Ranking Member)
** Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs
*Joint Economic Committee

Caucus memberships

* Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
* Congressional Progressive Caucus
* Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
* Rare Disease Caucus

Political positions

Social issues

Housing

During her 2024 Senate campaign, Porter blamed the housing crisis on "Wall Street". She argued that federal government investment in housing is needed in response to California's housing crisis. She supports increased funding for section 8 vouchers and an increase in the low-income housing tax credit.

Abortion rights

Porter has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America for her abortion-related voting history. She opposed the overturning of ''Roe v. Wade''.

LGBTQ rights

Porter was a co-sponsor of the Equality Act. During her tenure in congress she voted in favor of the act. In 2019 and 2021, she voted in favor o
H.R. 5
which passed in the house, but failed in the senate.

On Jan 13, 2022, Porter urged the Food and Drug Administration to end a discriminatory policy that prevents members of the LGBTQ+ community, from giving blood donations. In 2022, Porter supported and voted in favor for the Respect for Marriage Act.

Workers rights

In 2023, Rep. Katie Porter joined writers in solidarity on the picket line during the WGA strike at The Culver Studios in Los Angeles. Addressing the crowd Porter said, “One of the things I love about this movement is that you guys are in it to stand up to corporate power and set an example for all of your brothers and sisters who are workers, who are unionized, and who are struggling to have labor rights.” While speaking to Deadline Hollywood, Porter stated that “corporations are using innovation and technology as an excuse to bust unions, and it’s absolutely unacceptable,... So this strike is about the entertainment industry, but it’s also about so much more.” Porter also joined the SAG-AFTRA, WGA picket line outside Paramount Studios in August 2023. She stated, “I’m here today to stand with the SAG-AFTRA workers to listen and to learn from them and to make it clear that workers have the right to bargain.”

Healthcare

Porter is a vocal supporter of Medicare for All.

In March 2019, Porter introduced the "Help America Run Act" (H.R.1623), a bill that would allow people running for the House or Senate to use campaign contributions to pay for healthcare premiums, elder care, child care and dependent care. The bill passed the House in October 2019 but was not taken up by the Senate.

In 2020, Rep. Katie Porter accused UnitedHealth of "putting profits before patients and providers" during the Covid-19 pandemic. Porter sent a congressional letter to UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann, accusing the healthcare provider of reducing their provider networks and decrease reimbursement rates.

In 2020, Porter voted for the No-Surprise Act, which prohibited medical providers from billing patients for costs denied by insurance companies.

In an interview with Yahoo Finance in 2022, Porter criticized pharmaceutical companies for investing more money in stock buybacks than in research and development. She also addressed the high price of pharmaceuticals, saying, “Everybody should want us to have innovative care, but it doesn’t do any good to develop those drugs if they’re priced out of reach.” Porter stated that “there is simply no set of facts that supports that allowing the government to negotiate drug prices would reduce innovation” and that the government should have the power to negotiate drug prices and it would help create a more competitive market.

Governance

Judiciary

Porter has supported instituting more-stringent codes of conduct for the Supreme Court justices. In 2023, Demand Justice, an organization devoted to court reform and expansion, organize a statewide bus tour where Porter attended and put her support behind legislation that would expand the court to 13 justices.

Trump impeachments

Porter voted for both the first and second impeachments of Donald Trump In an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent, Porter talked about the reasons for her decision. She stated that "Trump has repeatedly broken the law and put his personal interest and his political interest ahead of this country’s interest."

Campaign Finance

Since 2018, Porter has not accept campaign donations from corporate political action committees. She supported H.R.1 through the House of Representatives, which would undo the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

Withdrawal of Biden

After the June 2024 presidential debate, Porter said that the White House “clearly fumbled” with its response to the fallout from President Biden’s debate performance. In an interview with CNN, Jake Tapper asked Porter, if Biden was capable of holding an hour and a half press conference. Porter responded by saying, “Like most Americans, I actually don’t have that information,”she also stated that she hadn't personally seen the president in about a year. Porter suggested that a change in direction could include a change in advisers or a change in campaign strategy.

Foreign policy

Azerbaijan

In February 2023, Porter, on the House floor, called for the Biden administration to immediate end the blockade and to end all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. She stated, "American taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing Azerbaijan's constant aggression against the Armenian people." Porter also stated "Azerbaijan's goal is clear: to force the ethnic Armenians of Artsakh from their homeland by imposing conditions that make life impossible. We must hold Azerbaijan accountable for its aggression."

Middle East

= Syria

=
In 2023, Porter voted against H.R. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

= Israeli–Palestinian conflict

=
In December 2023, Porter called for a ceasefire in the Gaza war after Hamas is removed "from operational control of Gaza" and blamed Hamas for the "shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicine" over the years in Gaza.

Economic policy

Porter voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on November 5, 2021. In 2023, Porter was among the 46 House Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Environment

Porter is a supporter of the Green New Deal.

Porter has been a supporter of the National Park Service’s Every Kid Outdoors program. In 2021, Porter pushed for additional funding for the program to increase children’s access to national parks. She endorsed the Biden administration’s 2023 “America the Beautiful” initiative.

In September 2023, during an interview with Fox 5 San Diego, Porter stated, “California is going to need to continue to have an ‘all of the above’ energy approach but we’re also going to need to make that transition,... And as we do, the question is can we make sure as we transition, slowly, away from fossil fuels to greener energy that we don’t leave any workers behind.”

In February 2024 during her Senate campaign, in a debate, Porter called for decommissioning the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

Electoral history

2018

2020

2022

2024

Awards and honors

In 2022, Porter Received the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Award.

Personal life

Porter married Matthew Hoffman, with whom she has three children, in 2003. Porter filed for divorce in 2013. Their divorce was contentious, and both Hoffman and Porter sought help for anger management. Her daughter, Betsy, is named after Elizabeth Warren. Hoffman lives outside of California, and Porter is the main caregiver for their children.

Porter lives in a four-bedroom residence on the University of California, Irvine, campus that she purchased in 2011. UC Irvine has a faculty and staff housing community, University Hills, that was designed as "a way to compensate for high Orange County housing costs that can keep a recruit from accepting a job at the university".. Porter's residence's price was $523,000, in line with norms in that community for university faculty and staff. In 2022, the Associated Press reported that the median price of a residence in Irvine was $1,300,000. Porter paused her teaching in 2018 after being elected. The university then continually granted Porter no-pay leave, as is the norm for faculty providing service to the nation such as NSF Program officer or member of Congress, allowing her to keep her residence on campus during her congressional tenure. A post-marriage relationship with a live-in boyfriend ended when Porter obtained a restraining order to keep him away from Porter, her home, and her children.Katie Porter granted temporary restraining order against an ex after ‘ongoing threats and harassment
''Orange County Register,'' Kaitlin Schallhorn, Sean Emery, November 27, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.

The Pew Research Center reported in 2023 that Porter is an Episcopalian.

Publications

Books

* ''Modern Consumer Law (''Aspen Publishing, May 27, 2016) .
* The Law of Debtors and Creditors: Text, Cases, and Problems (8th ed.). (Aspen Publishers. November 01, 2020) . (Co-authored with Jay Westbrook, Elizabeth Warren, John Pottow)
* Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class (Stanford University Press, 2012)
* ''I Swear: Politics Is Messier Than My Minivan'' (Crown, April 11, 2023)

Articles

'No Money Down' Bankruptcy
(March 1, 2017). 'Foohey, Pamela and Lawless, Robert M. and Porter, Katherine M. and Thorne, Deborah, Southern California Law Review, 2017, Forthcoming, UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2017-12, University of Illinois College of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 17-19.

Cracking the Code: An Empirical Analysis of Consumer Bankruptcy Outcomes
101 Minnesota Law Review 1031-1098 (2017) (with Sara Greene and Parina Patel).
* Katherine Porter
The Complaint Conundrum: Thoughts on the CFPB's Complaint Mechanism, 7
Brook. J. Corp. Fin. & Com. L. (2012).

"Did Bankruptcy Reform Fail? An Empirical Study of Consumer Debtors."
Katherine Porter et al., co-authors. Am. Bankr. L. J. 82, no. 3 (2008): 349-405.

See also

* List of Harvard University politicians
* Women in the United States House of Representatives
* Progressivism in the United States

Notes

References

External links

Congresswoman Katie Porter
official U.S. House website

Katie Porter for Congress
campaign website
*

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Katie
1974 births
21st-century American women politicians
21st-century California politicians
21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
American Episcopalians
American women academics
California Democrats
California lawyers
Candidates in the 2024 United States Senate elections
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
Female members of the United States House of Representatives
Harvard Law School alumni
Iowa Democrats
Living people
Left-wing populism in the United States
People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election
Phillips Academy alumni
Politicians from Fort Dodge, Iowa
University of California, Irvine faculty
University of Iowa College of Law faculty
University of Nevada, Las Vegas faculty
Women in California politics
Yale College alumni