After backlash, Rep. Porter regrets calling California primary ‘rigged’

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AFTER LOSING THE CALIFORNIA SENATE PRIMARY TO REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF AND FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER STEVE GARVEY, PROGRESSIVE REPRESENTATIVE KATIE PORTER IS REGRETTING HER CHOICE OF WORDS. PORTER HAD CALLED THE RACE “RIGGED,” SPARKING BACKLASH AND CRITICISM FROM HER OWN PARTY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, PORTER WROTE ON X THAT SHE FACED AN “ONSLAUGHT OF BILLIONAIRES SPENDING MILLIONS TO RIG THIS ELECTION.” SHE ADDED, “BECAUSE OF YOU WE HAD THE ESTABLISHMENT RUNNING SCARED.”

PORTER’S CHARACTERIZATIONS WERE LIKENED TO THOSE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

TRUMP HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION “RIGGED,” AND CLAIMED ELECTION FRAUD, WHILE POSITIONING HIMSELF AS AN “ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT” CANDIDATE.

IN AN INTERVIEW ON THE “POD SAVE AMERICA” PODCAST AFTER THE BACKLASH, PORTER SAID SHE DIDN’T MEAN MEAN TO IMPLY STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS WERE CROOKED. RATHER SHE MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY IN POLITICS, SAYING SHE WISHES SHE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT WORD OTHER THAN “RIGGED.”

STILL, PORTER SAID “BIG MONEY DOES INFLUENCE OUR ELECTIONS.”

SHE FURTHER CLAIMED “OUTCOMES ARE MANIPULATED AND DISTORTED” — BY LAST-MINUTE SPENDING THAT IS NOT DISCLOSED UNTIL AFTER THE VOTES ARE IN.

PORTER’S CRITIQUE OF MONEY IN POLITICS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES IN CONGRESS, WHO HAVE DISAVOWED CORPORATE DONATIONS.

HOWEVER, WHILE EXPERTS NOTE BIG MONEY PLAYS A ROLE IN ELECTIONs, THEY SAY IT DOES NOT EQUATE TO RIGGING.

THE CALIFORNIA SENATE PRIMARY, WHICH USES A TOP-TWO SYSTEM, SAW PORTER FINISH IN THIRD-PLACE BEHIND SCHIFF AND REPUBLICAN STEVE GARVEY. SCHIFF’S CAMPAIGN FEATURED TV ADS TO CONTRAST HIM WITH GARVEY, IN HOPES OF RAISING SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLICAN AMONG REPUBLICANS AND CREATING AN EASIER PATH TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.