KATIE PORTER LEADS FIELD FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR IN 2025 FUNDRAISING

February 3, 2026

Porter Pulls In $6.1 Million Haul Entirely From Grassroots Supporters, Not Corporations

Porter Has $3.2 Million Cash on Hand—The Highest of Top 5 Polling Candidates

Porter’s Average Contribution is Just $68—6X Lower Than Nearest Democrat

Campaign finance filings released on Monday show that Katie Porter raised more than any other candidate for California Governor in 2025. Her campaign raised $6.1 million dollars in just the nine months she was in the race last year. Apart from a self-funding billionaire, Porter is the only candidate to refuse donations from corporations and their PACs—raising her total haul entirely from grassroots supporters. Porter’s average donation during the last reporting period, which was just $68, stands in stark contrast to other candidates (Swalwell: $1,844 average; Villaraigosa: $3,204 average; Steyer: $348,333 average).

$6.1 million raised in the first nine months of her campaign for Governor
59,000 individual donors
148,000 individual contributions
$68 average contribution
Donations from nearly every county in California

“Katie Porter is the candidate to beat in the race for California Governor,” said Peter Opitz, campaign spokesperson. “While other candidates rely on special interest donors or their own billionaire net worth, Katie’s campaign is the only one powered by the people of California. Her unparalleled grassroots support, polling lead, fundraising advantage, and lower costs message positions her well to secure a spot in the general election.”

Porter’s fundraising haul demonstrates her continued momentum as a leading Democrat in the race for California Governor. She has more than $3.2 million cash on hand, more than the other top candidates in the race: Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Eric Swalwell, and Tom Steyer. A January 2025 poll showed Porter at 14%, leading the Democratic field. When voters heard one simple message on how she’ll stand up to Trump and hold corporations accountable, her support soared to 22% of the vote—trouncing every candidate in the race, including the two Republicans.

Porter is running a campaign powered by workers, including a just-announced endorsement from IBEW Local 441. Her support also includes the backing of five statewide unions: National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), Teamsters California, United Auto Workers (UAW), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), and Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transit Workers Union (SMART). She has also been endorsed by Rep. Dave Min, Rep. Derek Tran, and other major groups like EMILYs List, Elect Democratic Women, Fund Her, California Women’s List, and Vote Mama PAC.

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