Katie Porter, the ex-Democratic Representative who is now vying for the position of California governor, was recently caught in a rather unflattering light—literally—during a 2021 Zoom call, where she expressed her evident frustration at her staff over the lighting setup.
This rather revealing video resurfaced on social media Thursday, offering a glimpse into the less-than-stellar moments of Porter’s campaign.
“These, that are killing me… not that dark!” she exclaimed during the call, clearly more concerned with aesthetics than substance.
In a display that could only be described as theatrically tense, Porter struggled to keep her composure while navigating technical difficulties.
WATCH:
In a recently uncovered clip, California gubernatorial hopeful Katie Porter is seen directing icy glares at staff members struggling with her lighting during a Zoom meeting.
“I need the lights off… the bright lights… I need you to turn these off. These, that are killing me… Not that dark,” she asserted emphatically.
It’s amusingly convincing… pic.twitter.com/hE6JCwhjli
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 9, 2025
The atmosphere surrounding Porter’s campaign appears to be thickening. Recently, Politico unveiled another eyebrow-raising clip depicting Porter in a heated exchange with a staffer during a call with the Biden Administration.
This particular incident unfolded in July 2021, as then-Congresswoman Porter engaged with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. During the conversation, a masked staffer mistakenly interrupted her flow, prompting Porter to sharply command, “Get out of my f*cking shot!” The outburst continued with statements like, “You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot,” punctuated by a forceful bang of her fists on the table.
WATCH:
Exclusive coverage by @melmason revealed Katie Porter’s outburst directed at a staffer during a recording with the Biden administration.
The video + story — originally reported by @politicohttps://t.co/WENFsRlkwC pic.twitter.com/47dQ3n6nWJ
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) October 8, 2025
In response to these emerging criticisms, Porter acknowledged to Politico, “It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a high standard, and that was especially true as a member of Congress. I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work.”
The fallout from these heated moments comes just days after Porter experienced a verbal lapse during an interview with award-winning investigative journalist Julie Watts.
Watts, who has been interviewing candidates ahead of California’s gubernatorial primary scheduled for June 2026, found Porter to be the only candidate unprepared to address the potential need for votes from Trump supporters. Porter made a rather bold declaration that she does not need support from Trump voters in California, leading to her visibly uncomfortable attempt to cut the interview short when pressed further.
WATCH:
Katie Porter finds herself at a loss during an interview as she attempts to exit the discussion after expressing frustration with @juliewattsTV‘s inquiries pic.twitter.com/mTzZURG86K
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) October 8, 2025
