On Tuesday, California representative Katie Porter announced her 2024 bid for the United States Senate.
Porter was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, ousting two-term incumbent Republican Mimi Walters. The California representative was reelected for a second and third term in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
"We're living through a time of extraordinary change," Porter said. "Change can be electrifying and exhilarating. But change can also be disruptive, like the constant assault on our democracy, and the dangerous imbalance in our economy."
"California needs a warrior in the Senate—to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell accountable for rigging our democracy," Porter wrote in a tweet. "Today, I'm proud to announce my candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2024."
"I work for California—not a political party, and certainly not corporate donors," Porter continued. "I refuse money from corporate PACs, federal lobbyists, and executives from Big Oil, Big Pharma, and Wall Street banks. Our campaign is fueled by grassroots support."
“The threat from so-called leaders, like Mitch McConnell, has too often made the United States Senate the place where rights get revoked, special interests get rewarded, and our democracy gets rigged," Porter continued in her campaign ad. "Especially in times like these, California needs a warrior in Washington, and that's exactly why I'm announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024."
The Californian representative insisted she doesn't "do congress" like other politicians as a clip of Porter using her infamous white board is shown. "I use whatever power I have to speak hard truths to the powers that be. To not just challenge the status quo, but call it out, name names, and demand justice," Porter continued. "That goes for taking on Wall Street and the big banks, big oil, and big pharma."
Porter insisted she refuses to accept corporate political action committee (PAC) and lobbyist campaign money saying, “I don't want it." She also expressed interest in banning Congressional stock trading
"To win these fights, it's time for new leadership in the U.S. Senate," Porter concluded.
The California representative's Senate run is eyeing incumbent Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1992. It is unclear if Feinstein, who will be 91 in 2024, will seek reelection.
Fellow California Senator Alex Padilla assumed Vice President Kamala Harris' Senate seat following the 2020 Presidential Election. Padilla finished the two years left in Harris' term and secured a full Senate term in the 2022 Midterm election.
