I want to tell you more about my story.
I grew up in rural Iowa, where my parents, two siblings, and I lived in a two-bedroom, one-bath house. My father was a farmer and my mother was a small business owner.
As I grew older, I saw neighbors and friends lose everything as Iowa's economy collapsed during the farm crisis of the 1980s. That experience shaped how I see the economy, which is set up to bail out the rich and powerful while working Americans are left behind.
I got scholarships to attend good schools, but I was reminded that other students came from different backgrounds and didn't have to work multiple jobs through college. Ever since then, I've never forgotten my roots growing up.
I decided to go to law school because I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would help people. While in school, I had the opportunity to study under then professor Elizabeth Warren. She helped me see the power of strong consumer protections—and how clear rules give families a fair shot.
I carried these lessons to California, where I was raising my three young children and teaching law when then Attorney General of California Kamala Harris asked me to serve as the California Monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement. I held the Big Banks' feet to the fire, delivering billions in relief for homeowners and helping thousands of families stay in their homes.
That fight prepared me for one of the most important points of my life: my decision to run for Congress. In the middle of Trump's first term, I saw firsthand how he was handing the keys to the economy over to his rich and powerful friends. Working families were getting left behind while he gave huge tax breaks to billionaires.
I ran in a district that was a decades-long Republican stronghold and won—because voters knew I would fight for them, not special interests. In Congress, I used my power to fight for the same values I had my entire career: making life easier for working families, women, and people that are far too often forgotten in Washington.
I know what it's like for most Californians right now. Unlike many of my peers in Congress, I didn't have to rely on talking points to tell me what ordinary people were going through. I'm a single mom raising three kids—I know the struggle. I stretch my grocery dollars with coupons, shop second-hand for dresses for the campaign trail, and worry about the high costs that add up when my 2010 minivan needs a repair. These are the same challenges so many Californians face, and that perspective matters—it's why I fight the way I do.
Now, I feel the same call to serve that I did in 2018. Donald Trump is out of control, costs in California are crushing families, our housing crisis is decades in the making, and health insurance premiums are going up thanks to Trump's chaos in Washington. I could go on, but the point is something has to change.
As governor, I'll fight to bring down costs, make housing more affordable, and hold corporations accountable when they cheat Californians. I'll make sure our state works for everyone—not just the wealthy and well connected.
Thank you,
Katie Porter
