California Primary Race Accused of Rigging by Katie Porter
In a surprising turn of events, Senator Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, has suggested that the state’s primary race was rigged by “an onslaught of billionaires.” Porter, known for her progressive views, lost to her Democratic opponent, Representative Adam Schiff, and Republican candidate Steve Garvey. Despite representing Orange County since 2019, Porter finished third in the race, earning just under 14% of the statewide vote.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Porter claimed that her supporters “had the establishment running scared,” enduring a 3-to-1 disadvantage in television spending and facing millions of dollars from billionaires attempting to manipulate the election. She believes that these results highlight the Californian people’s desire for leaders who reject the status quo and prioritize government accountability.
Porter’s accusations of a rigged election echo former President Trump’s repeated claims following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. However, it is worth noting that Porter herself has received substantial financial support from big donors, despite her claims of not accepting corporate PAC money. Federal campaign finance disclosures reveal that she has accepted thousands of dollars in donations from Wall Street donors.
California, a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a ratio of 2-to-1, allows all candidates to appear on the same primary ballot. The top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. It is worth mentioning that a Republican candidate has not won a statewide race in California since 2006.
Digital has reached out to Porter and Schiff’s campaign offices for further comment, but Garvey declined to respond. As the dust settles on the California primary race, it is clear that the accusations of a rigged election have left some lingering doubts and fueled discussions about the influence of money in politics.
Bradford Betz, a Digital breaking reporter, contributed to this report, which covers crime, political issues, and more. Stay updated with the latest news and exclusive interviews from the 2024 campaign trail by subscribing to our newsletter.
