The 118th Congress is not even one week into operation, and California Rep. Katie Porter has decided that she needs to seek a difference office.

Can you say, “arrogance,” boys and girls? Porter is the only one that can hold D.C. accountable.

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.

Today, I'm proud to announce my candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2024. pic.twitter.com/X1CSE8T12B

— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) January 10, 2023

From the Los Angeles Blade:

Rep. Katie Porter, the Democratic former University of California Irvine professor known for her use of a whiteboard in congressional hearings, has announced she is running for the U.S. Senate currently held by trailblazing Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The venerable San Francisco politician, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, is widely expected to retire instead of running for reelection in 2024. In recent years the octogenarian lawmaker has faced questions about her mental acuity an fitness for remaining in her Senate seat and over the past year has has stepped back from some official duties.

Porter, the Orange County Register noted recently won reelection to California’s 47th Congressional District, a coastal area that includes Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and part of Huntington Beach.

Porter’s announcement comes on the heels of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank-Hollywood) who had appeared on Los Angeles Fox 11 last week and told The Issue Is host Elex Michaelson that should Feinstein retire in 2024 he will seriously consider replacing her in a campaign.

Someone forgot to inform Porter that the Senate has a Democrat majority (albeit slim), and Chuck Schumer, not Mitch McConnell is the majority leader. But I guess Porter has decided that Orange County families are now second to her personal ambitions.

Someone also needs to inform Porter that a “warrior” is not just about a white board and bombast. Say what you will about Dianne Feinstein and her age, she’s had a long career in politics, and is not fresh off law clerking, short stints at white collar firms, and cushy law professorships where they subsidize your million dollar home. Porter may think she has the wind in her sails, but this inopportune challenge to Feinstein could be at her own peril.

The long knives have been out for Feinstein for a while. RedState reported back in November 2022 (here, here, and here) about the not-so-subtle allusions to the Senator’s age (she is 89), her cognitive abilities, and whether the progressive cause would survive Feinstein serving another six-year term. Politicos are still having nightmares about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s refusal to retire during Barack Obama’s presidency, allowing Donald Trump to appoint three originalists to the Supreme Court. Progressive activists have learned, and just as they did with Justice Steven Breyer, they are overtly pushing Feinstein out the door—for the good of democracy… or something.

Not to mention the interesting stories that are suddenly leaking, like this one from February 2022 about a disgruntled former staffer who embarrassed Feinstein (and himself) by breaking into her D.C. office and smoking marijuana at her desk.

Jamarcus Purley, a former staffer who was fired from Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) office, entered the U.S. Capitol and smoked a marijuana blunt in the California Democrat’s office.

[…]

Purley breaking into Feinstein’s office and smoking marijuana after his termination comes at a time when Capitol Hill security has been increased and scrutinized.

Despite the challenges and the retirement hammer being held over her head, Feinstein has stayed consistent: she will complete her full term, which ends in 2024, and she will announce whether or not she plans to retire in the Spring. But like a bull in a China shop, Porter feels her candidacy is too critical to move with delicacy or deference.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time,” Feinstein said in a statement Tuesday. “Right now I’m focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead.”

A Feinstein retirement would trigger shock waves across the California political community as candidates line up for a crack at a rare open Senate seat. Other top contenders are expected to include Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, who has expressed interest in the seat should Feinstein not run again, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, an ally of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Congressman Adam Schiff is practically chomping at the bit, taking every media opportunity he can to paint himself as the heir apparent to the Senate seat. Since his Congressional career is all but over, this is the next logical step. Schiff is a staunch Democrat loyalist, and a rare Southern California pol who is in the good graces of the San Francisco Cabal. For an example of one who is not, see, Garcetti, Eric. So, Schiff may yet be the anointed one in terms of Democrat Party backing.

As our Senior Editor Joe Cunningham wrote:

Porter is skilled at raising money from small-dollar donors and is beloved by progressives. However, she isn’t without baggage. Just recently, it was discovered that she horribly mistreated a staffer who was a Wounded Warrior Fellow and apparently has a history of being abusive to staff, which includes accusations of racism. Is she the best California Democrats can do?

None of these potentials warm the cockles of the heart, and Porter has the progressive fan base that seems unfazed by her obvious ethical issues, her grating personality, or the fact that she is a horrible boss.

In terms of party loyalty, according to anonymous and past staffers, Porter doesn’t have much.

It’s all Katie, all the time.

From Fox News:

A social media account called Dear White Staffers posted screenshots of conversations with anonymous ex-Porter staffers who alleged they heard the congresswoman saying “rude/racist things” while trying to “mask it as edgy humor” and badmouthing Democrat leadership.

“Thinks she knows better and talks s— about other members, leadership, staffers, local [elected officials], etc., at full volume, in public, and to literally [anyone] who will listen,” the post reads.

The anonymous account also accused Porter of being “completely disinterested” in representing her district in Congress, adding that the only staffers who appear to “survive are superfans that participate in or overlook the abuse.”

“Give it time and it will rank among the legendary toxic offices,” the post read.

Here are some screenshots from those Instagram posts:

So, the dunderheads who view Porter as a badass, actually just like the fact that she is rude and devoid of class. She is completely lacking in social skills, not to mention political acumen. Beyond the fundraising and the progressive bona fides, all Porter has left is theatrics.

Representative Katie Porter reading a book about how to get through this session of Congress pic.twitter.com/N5irYXWxfU

— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) January 7, 2023

Not everyone is falling for the act, and one can only hope that with Porter cannonballing into the Senate race, more Democrats will be turned off by the entitlement, along with the toxic tales that will no doubt continue to surface.

Dianne Feinstein has more legislative accomplishments than Whiteboard Wendy could ever dream of. Whiteboards, insulin earrings and obnoxious books are not accomplishments

— the sarcastic little sea shill 🧜🏻‍♀️✡️🪬 (@layneashley222) January 10, 2023

Representative Katie Porter begins her ill-advised, quixotic run for the US Senate seat currently occupied by Dianne Feinstein.

But she will fail in her endeavor, and deserves to. Why? Because her disrespectful, divisive energy is not welcome in the modern party.

— Pete beat Bernie in IA. Cope, you socialist b*tch. (@Needle_of_Arya) January 10, 2023

Porter might want to check her privilege and make a pretense that she actually cares about being a public servant, rather than a public figure.