What the Democratic Party could learn from first-term Congresswoman Katie PorterKatie Porter is full of questions. There’s
It’s unusual for anyone other than the most devout political junkie to know the name of a freshman House member. At least that was true until the 116th Congress, which has produced “the Squad,” the four first-term freshmen Democrats known for their online followings and far-left politics. Porter has gone a different route.
“She is careful about which issues she speaks out on and which issues she supports behind the scenes,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which Porter is a member. “Even if she’s going to vote with progressives, she’s not necessarily going to make every vote as vocal a priority.”
When she talks to constituents, Porter can sound professorial, taking the time to explain the workings of Capitol Hill without talking down to them. At a town hall at a synagogue, she mentioned one of her bills, saying it had been “marked up through committee.” Rather than leaving it at that, she detailed what that means.
When she finished, the mostly liberal audience applauded loudly. I looked over at the man who had asked the question. He cocked his head, shrugged his shoulders, and joined in the clapping.on a family farm outside of Lorimor, in central Iowa, in a house her great-grandfather built. Her dad and grandfather grew corn, soybeans, and hay, and she showed pigs and cows in the 4-H club.
“It was that night that I said, ‘I have to wait. I was so excited to do this. I really wanted to see these things happen in Washington and now, who knows what’s going to happen?’ ” Her boyfriend — who often ferries her around to events in Orange County in his beat-up Toyota Camry, topped with a surfboard — suggested she run for Congress. She shrugged him off. He was just trying to make her feel better, she thought. “You know, like when your favorite blouse gets ruined.
Orange County had long been a conservative stronghold. The county, which Ronald Reagan once quipped was “where the good Republicans go before they die,” had not voted for a Democrat for president since 1936, and the 45th District had sent only Republicans to Congress. But in recent years, the demographics have changed, as the number of Latinos and Asians has increased rapidly.
In the general, she assailed Walters’s record of voting with Trump 99 percent of the time. It took nine days after the election for the final numbers to come in. Porter won by 4 points. “There was a real Trump backlash in Orange County,” said veteran political pollster Adam Probolsky. Any competent Democrat, he said, could have won in 2018 running against Trump.
One of her most well-worn laugh lines is how much academia prepared her for Congress. The endless meetings! The stunning inefficiency! When there’s so much she wants to get done! Overhauling the health care system. Passing gun control. Lowering prescription drug prices. Curbing climate change.
CalSunday I believe this woman is the future of the Democratic Party! At the minimum I see her as a top gubernatorial candidate.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: CNN - 🏆 4. / 95 Read more »
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »