Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) lost in California’s Senate primary last week. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Republican Steve Garvey will face off in the general election. Garvey is a former World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Golden State has a jungle primary, meaning the two top vote-getters move onto the general; Ms. Porter was not among them. Instead of bowing out graciously, Porter hopped on the rigged election train to explain her loss. It hasn’t turned out well.
For starters, there is no evidence of any election shenanigans. Porter’s ego seems to have taken the place of sound judgment regarding her March 5 defeat (via Associated Press):
Please find a statement from me below. pic.twitter.com/as8H2cHWL8
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) March 7, 2024
Rigged! https://t.co/Qt40K9EQny pic.twitter.com/vysVz7zU5F
— Mrs. Brassenstein (@MBrassenstein) March 7, 2024
She lost by 20 points, but is saying the election is rigged because she was out spent. pic.twitter.com/KM4G2aVpxO
— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) March 7, 2024
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter became a social media celebrity by brandishing a white board at congressional hearings to dissect CEOs and break down complex figures into assaults on corporate greed, a signature image that propelled the Democrat’s U.S. Senate candidacy in California.
This time, her numbers didn’t add up.
The progressive favorite known for spotlighting her soccer mom, minivan-driving home life was trounced in Tuesday’s primary election to fill the seat once held by the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, finishing far behind Republican Steve Garvey and fellow Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff.
[…]
Porter didn’t go down quietly. She immediately pointed a finger at “billionaires spending millions to rig this election.” That claim resulted in a brutal social media backlash from many who were happy to depict the congresswoman as a graceless loser.
“Can we stop trying to excuse every loss with the term ‘rig’ or ‘rigged’?” veteran Florida Democratic operative Steve Schale wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Some likened her bitter words to former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud in 2020 — not a kind comparison to make in Democratic circles.
Bill Maher, who had Porter on his show, wasn’t weeping either over Porter’s loss, noting that he doesn’t like her and that the feeling is mutual (via Fox News):
"Real Time" host Bill Maher took a victory lap at the expense of Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., saying he feels "quite vindicated" following her defeat in the California Senate race last week.
Porter was shut out of California's jungle primary on Super Tuesday with her Democratic colleague Rep. Adam Schiff and former Los Angeles Dodgers player turned GOP hopeful Steve Garvey advancing to the general election. After earning just 15% of the vote, Porter claimed the race was "rigged" by "an onslaught of billionaires" who spent millions on ads attacking her.
[…]
"We don't like each other," Maher told the panel, sparking laughs from the audience. "No, it's true. I mean, she would say the same thing. But you can't get along [with everybody]."
The coup de grâce was CNN’s Manu Raju asking Porter if she still felt her primary was rigged. She didn’t answer.
