If you’re going to run for office, you better expect all of your personal life to be scrutinized. One woman thought she could get away with it.
But now a Democrat candidate’s ex-husband exposed her and now her campaign is finished.
Hoffman’s Revelations Challenge Porter’s Leadership Image
Matthew Hoffman, ex-husband of California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, has come forward with pointed criticisms, depicting the Democratic congresswoman as a “master manipulator” whose volatile temperament undermines her suitability to lead the Golden State.
In an exclusive interview with The Post, the 50-year-old compliance specialist from Portland, Oregon, expressed relief at resurfaced videos exposing what he calls Porter’s true character, including her hostile exchanges with staff and journalists.
“It’s about time” these clips surfaced, Hoffman said, alluding to footage of Porter berating a staffer during a 2021 Zoom call, yelling, “get out of my f—ing shot,” and her recent on-air spat with CBS reporter Julie Watts. He described the latter as a missed “softball question” on appealing to Trump supporters, where Porter instead accused the journalist of being “unnecessarily argumentative.”
Such incidents, Hoffman argues, reveal a pattern that alienates allies and erodes public trust, making Porter a risky choice for governor in the June 2026 primary to succeed term-limited Gavin Newsom.
Porter’s Political Alliances Strain Under Personal Scrutiny
Hoffman, who shared a decade-long marriage with Porter before their contentious 2013 divorce, highlighted her difficulties even within Democratic circles. “She can’t even get along with Nancy Pelosi,” he noted, pointing to reported frictions with party leaders like former Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff.
He dismissed Porter’s claims that her third-place finish in the March California Senate primary—behind Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey—was due to a “rigged” election, calling it “politics as usual.” “The system’s not rigged, Katie,” Hoffman cautioned, suggesting her narrative deflects from substantive shortcomings.
Despite acknowledging Porter’s intelligence, Hoffman portrayed her as ill-suited for leadership, which demands consensus-building and openness to diverse views. “Leadership is all about finding consensus,” he said, “but Katie’s personality means she isn’t the type to listen to differing ideas and find an acceptable political middle ground.”
These remarks come as Porter campaigns on a platform of “a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit,” positioning herself as a fighter against entrenched interests—a message Hoffman says masks deeper interpersonal flaws that could hobble her administration.
Reflections on a Bitter Divorce and Co-Parenting Struggles
The couple’s split remains a flashpoint, marked by mutual restraining orders, an arrest of Hoffman for breaking a light switch during an argument, and dueling allegations of emotional and physical volatility. Hoffman recounted in court filings Porter’s outbursts, including dumping hot mashed potatoes on his head in 2006 over a cooking dispute and denying him a cell phone, deeming him “too f—ing dumb to operate it.”
Porter, who filed for divorce and secured protective orders, later framed the marriage in her 2018 congressional bid as “troubled,” emphasizing her role as a survivor of domestic violence and single mother to their three children.
Porter’s campaign spokesperson Peter Opitz countered that the pair now maintains a “positive and productive relationship” focused on co-parenting. Yet Hoffman described the divorce as “awful” and lamented limited access to his two sons and daughter, who live with Porter in Southern California.
He relies on frequent FaceTime calls but yearns for more in-person time, noting their infrequent, often transactional interactions—typically when Porter “wants something” related to parenting. Now remarried and moved on professionally, Hoffman said he speaks to his ex rarely and avoids her, but the “shadow” of their past lingers, casting doubt on her narrative of resilience.
Porter’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on Hoffman’s allegations or their family dynamics. As the campaign intensifies, these personal disclosures risk amplifying scrutiny on Porter’s combative style, potentially swaying voters in a state weary of political drama.
