Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter announced Tuesday morning that she is running for governor, potentially altering the dynamic in an already crowded field of prominent Democrats seeking to replace Gov.

The BriefFormer Democratic U.S. House member Katie Porter announced her candidacy for California governor in 2026.Porter, who previously ran for U.S. Senate, joins other Democratic candidates such as former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the race to succeed Gov.

Porter enters a field that includes Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Senate Leader Toni Atkins and former state Controller Betty Yee.

Katie Porter is officially entering the 2026 governor’s race, shaking up a field that is still bracing for the possible entrance of former VP Kamala Harris. Our Melanie Mason has more. THE BUZZ: SHADES OF RED — California’s small but growing Assembly Republican Caucus is navigating stark divisions over style and strategy that could determine whether it capitalizes on electoral momentum or fades into irrelevance.