Rep. Katie Porter signals interest in California governor race for 2026

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Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) hinted at a possible run for California governor in 2026, though she has not officially declared her candidacy. In a recent social media post, Porter highlighted her work in Congress and addressed polling data that suggested she could be a front-runner for the position. She expressed gratitude for voter support and emphasized the need for fresh voices in state politics.

Porter pointed out the rising cost of living as a key issue for Californians and suggested the next governor must be focused on solving such challenges. Her post followed polling results that placed her as the top choice of 14% of voters among a field of 13 potential candidates.

Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle, who ran against Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022, ranked second in the poll with 5.3% support. Other declared candidates include former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, both of whom received lower percentages of voter support.

Porter, known for her viral questioning of Wells Fargo executives in 2019, recently lost a bid for the U.S. Senate, finishing third in the nonpartisan primary. Despite this, she has remained active in political discussions, raising speculation about her next move.