Katie Porter is now running in CA-47, a slightly more Democratic district than her previous one. In the June primary, Porter bested her Republican opponent, Scott Baugh, with 51% of the vote compared to 30.8%. Still, the race is a top GOP target in the battle for House control and is rated ‘Lean Democrat’.
Known for her whiteboard presentations to take down Republican lies, Porter has been a trailblazer – holding corporations accountable and protecting American consumers. She is a proven fighter for Orange County families, and her record of accountability strongly contrasts with Republican Scott Baugh’s record of shady election practices. Baugh, a former chairman of the Orange County Republican Party and former California State Assembly Republican Leader was charged with schemes to falsely register new Democrats as Republicans.
HER BACKGROUND
Porter graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School and has taught law at several universities, including the University of California, Irvine, William S. Boyd School of Law, and the University of Iowa. She is deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has received media attention for her questioning during congressional hearings.
Before coming to Congress, Rep. Porter spent nearly two decades taking on the special interests that dominate American politics and drown out the voices of working families. A lifelong consumer advocate, she taught bankruptcy law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. As California’s independent watchdog against the banks, she oversaw big banks that had cheated Orange County homeowners. She got them to follow through on their promise to help families get back on their feet. As a consumer finance expert, Congresswoman Porter also helped Congress pass the original Credit CARD Act in 2009, which enacted federal protections from abusive credit card fees.
Rep. Porter is a single mom of three school-aged kids. She lives with her family in Irvine, California, and understands the challenges that families face.
ON THE ISSUES
Rep. Porter believes every American should have the right to a safe and legal abortion–it’s a matter of liberty and freedom. Throughout her career, she has stood up to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and reduce access to birth control. Now, while Republicans propose nationwide abortion bans, she’s fighting to keep abortion legal for all Americans.
Rep.Porter has seen what failing to protect our environment looks like: oil leaks that close our beaches and shutter local businesses, and deadly wildfires that destroy homes and pollute our air. She advocates for smart policies that will help preserve our environment and protect our planet for our kids and grandkids. That includes making sure all kids can enjoy the outdoors, and keeping families safe from toxic chemicals.
As a parent of school-aged kids, Rep. Porter has had enough of politicians who are too afraid to stand up to the gun lobby. That’s why the very first amendment she introduced requires Congress to issue a report on the impact of firearm possession on victims of domestic violence. She’s also been proud to vote for bipartisan legislation to enhance background checks on firearm purchases. Rep.Porter supports a ban on assault weapons, mandatory background checks on all gun sales, and studying gun violence as the public health crisis that it is.
