If you were wondering how the California governor’s race could get any messier, buckle up — because Katie Porter’s ex-husband just threw a boiling pot of potatoes into the middle of it. And no, that’s not a metaphor.
Matthew Hoffman, Porter’s ex-husband of ten years and the father of her three children, has officially broken his silence. And what he’s revealing about the progressive firebrand isn’t exactly campaign ad material. In fact, it’s more like a cautionary tale of what happens when raw ambition, unchecked rage, and identity politics collide — all under the bright lights of California’s deeply blue political circus.
Let’s start with the headline-grabber: Hoffman claims Porter once dumped an actual pot of boiling mashed potatoes on his head during an argument. Over what, you ask? The mashed potatoes weren’t being made correctly. “Can’t you read the f—ing instructions?” Porter reportedly screamed before dumping the scalding food on him. Hoffman says his scalp was burned, and the incident was included in divorce court filings.
Sounds like a calm and collected leader, right?
But it doesn’t stop there.
In court documents, Hoffman claimed Porter was verbally abusive throughout their marriage, calling him a “f—ing idiot” and “f—ing incompetent.” She allegedly broke a glass coffee pot in a fit of rage, banned him from owning a cell phone because he was “too dumb to operate it,” and routinely lashed out over small household issues.
And yet, Porter has branded herself as the victim in the divorce, even claiming domestic abuse during her 2018 congressional run. Never mind that they settled on joint custody. Never mind that Hoffman was granted visitation. Never mind that he left the state and took a quiet government job in Oregon just to get some distance.
Now, with her campaign for governor underway, the mask seems to be slipping. And maybe, just maybe, some people in her own party are ready to take it off for good.
It’s not just the ex-husband coming forward. Former staffers have been leaking like a sieve, with reports of Porter screaming at aides, berating colleagues, and even unloading on journalists. She burned through teams faster than a Netflix series, and yet somehow blamed her Senate primary loss on a “rigged” system — even though the person who beat her was fellow California Democrat Adam Schiff.
Matthew Hoffman noted what many on Capitol Hill have whispered for years: Porter can’t even get along with Nancy Pelosi. For those unfamiliar, Pelosi isn’t exactly known for being warm and fuzzy — but she is fiercely loyal to Democratic power players. So if Porter couldn’t win Pelosi over, something’s off.
California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s ex-husband says she goes through a lot of staff and the videos of her saying “horrible things” about them are accurate.
Porter’s campaign says she and her ex have a “positive and productive relationship.”pic.twitter.com/djrC9bvjjb
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 25, 2025
And this is the person who thinks she should run the largest state in the country?
This isn’t a GOP hit job. These aren’t conservative operatives digging through her trash. This is her ex-husband, former colleagues, and fellow Democrats quietly — and now publicly — distancing themselves.
And yet, Porter continues to beat the drum of the “single mom fighting the system.” She told one outlet, “I’m the most boring person in America.” Except, apparently, when she’s hurling ceramic bowls across the kitchen.
Since this 3min excerpt of 30min segment went viral, we decided to post it ourselves. But I’d encourage you to watch the full segment. https://t.co/wHQcHbybqF @CBSNews @kcalnews @CBSSacramento @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/A80fBGiFxE
— Julie Watts (@juliewattsTV) October 8, 2025
If you think this sounds like reality TV, you’re not wrong. The difference? This isn’t just personal drama. It’s a direct reflection of who Porter is when the cameras are off — and that’s what voters should care about.
Not even CNN can hide the disaster that is Katie Porter:
“I think that Katie Porter is making history because she has potentially annihilated her chances to be the next governor of California, more so than any other candidate I’ve ever seen so quickly.”pic.twitter.com/YJzKtBsLoT
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 10, 2025
Leadership isn’t screaming about big banks with a whiteboard in Congress. It’s knowing how to manage people, keep your temper in check, and build coalitions. Even Porter’s ex — a man who should probably be living his best Oregon-coffee-shop life far away from California politics — couldn’t help but warn the public: she’s not built for the job.
California has seen its fair share of political soap operas. But even for a state that reelected Gavin Newsom, the Porter saga might be too much. Or, maybe not — this is California, after all.
Either way, one thing’s clear: the mashed potatoes were just the beginning.
