Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

‘Cowboy Up, Cupcake’: Katie Porter Immediately Loses Veneer Of Civility When Questioned On Temperament

[Screenshot/CNN]

Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter lost her cool Tuesday when questioned about her temperament.

Porter snapped at Republican candidate Chad Bianco during CNN’s gubernatorial debate when he and former Fox News host Steve Hilton criticized her temperament. In response to the criticisms, Porter interrupted Bianco just moments after she lamented her opponents for interrupting and name-calling throughout the debate.

“I can’t believe that on a stage with 30 minutes of interrupting and bickering and name-calling and shouting and disrespect for everyone up here who is stepping into public service, that anyone wants to talk about my temperament,” Porter said.

“You were actually interrupting them, too,” Bianco said. “I don’t know why you want to act like you weren’t.”

“Oh, cowboy up, cupcake,” Porter snapped.

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Porter has faced backlash over her anger and behavior, including an alleged incident in 2013 when she poured scalding potatoes on her then-husband’s head. Viral footage from September showed Porter storming out of an interview after a reporter asked how she planned to appeal to voters who supported President Donald Trump.

Separate footage from 2021 also showed her shouting at her staff member who corrected the then-congresswoman’s statement on electric vehicles.

Polls found Hilton and former Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra neck-and-neck as the frontrunners in the race. An Evitarius survey from Monday found Becerra and Hilton tied at 18%, while Porter came in at 8%. A YouGov survey from April 28 found Porter standing at 9%, while Hilton was slightly in the lead at 16%.