LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter sat down one-on-one with Eyewitness News to discuss her latest political moves as polling for California governor’s race shows a wide-open contest.
Porter said that if elected governor, California would continue to serve as the resistance to President Donald Trump. But she also said that the affordability crisis cannot be blamed solely on the administration.
“This is not a crisis that is just because of Donald Trump,” Porter told Eyewitness News. “His tariffs, his economic instability, his immoral ICE raids are worsening California’s housing crisis, but this is about our own policy decisions.
“If California would build housing at the same speed that our competitor states do, we could take almost 20% off the cost of housing.”
The primary election is in June. The top two finishers advance regardless of their party.
Political commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, both Republicans, are two candidates surging in the polls.
“There are simply fewer Republican candidates,” Porter said. “We have two major Republican candidates who have been running these last several months. We have a larger Democratic field.”
Besides Porter, the Democrats in the race include Eric Swalwell, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond.
In response to two viral videos, one with a staffer and one involving a reporter, Porter has continuously said she will not back down. Porter was asked if the controversy has taken a toll on her campaign.
“I know those weren’t my best moments and Californians deserve a governor who’s going to be honest when they fall short,” Porter said. “I have demonstrated throughout my time in this campaign and will continue to demonstrate to voters that I’m willing to answer questions.”
On homelessness, Porter says her focus would be on preventing it by helping people avoid eviction, providing rapid re-housing and offering payment assistance for those who fall behind because of lost work or an accident.
Porter highlighted her ability to flip a congressional seat in Orange County from red to blue and her ability to work across the aisle as proof she can get the federal government to help California, including from Trump.
“I think there’s an opportunity to push him and to try to engage, but I also think California needs to be realistic,” Porter said. “California is going to have to go at it alone. There’s an opportunity here to work with other governors.
“Many of my classmates that I ran in 2018 with – to stand up to Donald Trump – are now governors of other states. How can we as states work collaboratively to be able to withstand the challenges President Trump will inevitably throw at us.”
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