Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) was dominating the California gubernatorial election after former Vice President Kamala Harris stated that she was not going to run.
However, Porter then did a calamitous interview in which she had an on-camera meltdown, and that caused the floodgates to open.
Now, if you can believe it, Porter has been shuffled all the way back to third place in the governor's race and would not even make the general election field at this point.
Porter’s interview, in which she got up and threatened to leave due to a question about attracting Donald Trump supporters, was only the first straw.
After that, a video showing Porter berating a staff member popped up, and then her ex came forward with a story about her pouring hot food on his head.
It took no time at all for her numbers to begin plummeting to the point where she dropped out of first place, with Republican Chad Bianco taking the lead in early polling.
This, as they say, was the beginning of the end for Porter, as she has continued to slide.
There is a new player in the game, as Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has since tossed his hat into the gubernatorial race, and he has had an immediate impact.
Bianco is still in the lead overall, but it is now Swalwell who has zoomed into second place.
The Republican is still sitting at 13%, with Swalwell at 12%, and Porter lagging back in third place at 11%.
Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, stated, “Upon entering the race, Swalwell splits the Democratic vote with Porter, 20% supporting Swalwell and 17% Porter. Republican voters are split between Bianco and Hilton, at 33% and 30%, while a plurality of independents, 45%, are undecided.”
Dems were looking for a big name to run in this election, and they finally got one in Swalwell, who ran for president in 2020.
Swalwell has started to present himself as the savior of the country who will fight back against the bad orange man, and his message is obviously getting through.
A successful campaign would also give Swalwell a chance to improve his profile with the American people more broadly.
This race could be a game-changer for Swalwell, as he is likely to use it to try to launch himself into another presidential campaign. I doubt he will go up against Gavin Newsom if it comes down to it, but he could launch in 2032 or 2036, depending on how the 2028 presidential election goes.
