![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/00527_PK_20250604_PK_CALCHAMBER.jpg\" "\\"Former")
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Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks during a California Chamber of Commerce gubernatorial panel discussion at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento on June 4.<\/p>\n
PAUL KITAGAKI JR.<\/p>\n
pkitagaki@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Former Rep. Katie Porter deserved better than the fate that befell her on Election Night; she was an excellent candidate to be governor of California with a command of the issues and an ability to express policy ideas that bested every other candidate running, including the three men still in contention<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unlike former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Porter didn\u2019t take corporate PAC money from the likes of Chevron.<\/p>\n And, unlike billionaire Tom Steyer, she could actually speak about affordability issues from the perspective of a single mom living the affordability crisis.<\/p>\n And yes, she could have been the first woman elected governor of California in nearly 180 years, but Porter had to concede defeat on Tuesday. Her campaign simply couldn\u2019t gain traction. Instead, Democrats who couldn\u2019t stomach Becerra as the establishment candidate, instead lined up behind Steyer, who put millions<\/a> of his own money into his campaign and tearing down his opponents.<\/p>\n California is perhaps simply not ready to elect a woman governor. Is being tough, pugnacious and plainspoken a sin (so often forgiven in men) that she could never shake? I\u2019ll always wonder, and be disappointed, that Porter couldn\u2019t garner the support she needed at the right time to make a final push.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a corporate-free campaign,\u201d Porter said in her concession speech<\/a>, which she posted to social media Tuesday night. \u201cA campaign that took not one penny from corporations. It\u2019s the only campaign that we can say that about in this race. That\u2019s something to be really proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a real shame; Porter is a genuine public servant for Californians, and she deserves a better legacy than being lumped in with the group of also-rans who should have dropped out months ago.<\/p>\n I\u2019m proud to be part of a McClatchy editorial board that endorsed Porter<\/a>, because we picked the best candidate for the job. Though she suffers from the same charge leveled against every woman in politics \u2014 that she can be unlikable \u2014 we believed she was the right choice for California.<\/p>\n In our interview with Porter, The Bee\u2019s editorial board found she was obviously the best candidate for the job. She alone had the intellect, the understanding of the issues, the communication skills and the bravery that a California governor needs to succeed in 2026.<\/p>\n We also found her promise to get big money out of politics a compelling argument for her candidacy. But that will have to wait now, as the establishment\u2019s candidate \u2014 Becerra \u2014 takes the lead. His gleeful acceptance<\/a> of campaign donations from companies like Chevron, Meta, PG&E and Uber should lead Californians to believe pushing big money out of politics is at the very bottom of his to-do list.<\/p>\n Early on in the campaign, Porter garnered an unfair reputation of snapping at her staff thanks to a leaked video. It was perhaps the worst thing anyone could say about her; a hypocritical complaint to the extreme, given the current occupant of the Oval Office.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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