Politics- The Cook Political Report switched Rep. Katie Porter's race from "lean Democratic" to a "toss-up."
- Porter, a Democratic darling, could be in danger of losing her California seat.
Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California could be in danger of losing her House seat as the race has shifted in the GOP's direction, according to a nonpartisan political forecaster.
The Cook Political Report on Tuesday released a new analysis that moved California's 47th congressional district from a "lean Democratic" rating to a "toss-up," showing signs that Porter might not cruise to reelection.
Porter, a progressive Democrat seeking a third term, has become a breakout star within her party in recent years, attracting widespread support. She's often gone viral on social media for using a whiteboard during committee hearings to grill witnesses on a variety of issues, from healthcare to COVID-19 to jobs.
Porter currently represents the 45th congressional district, a longtime Republican stronghold that she flipped blue in 2018. The area was redistricted after the 2020 cycle to the 47th congressional district, which covers a large swath of Orange County, an affluent area that includes Irvine, where Porter resides, along with the coastal cities of Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Newport Beach.
—Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 1, 2022
Porter is competing against Republican Scott Baugh, an attorney who previously served in the California state assembly and chaired the Orange County Republican Party for over a decade.
Several pollsters have predicted that Republicans are likely to win the House. Though the party only needs a net gain of five seats to take back control, there is potential to hold a stronger majority, and Porter's district appears to be in play.