Katie Porter, a California Democrat who harnessed the power of social media and whiteboards in Congress to gain popularity, is no stranger to brutal political races.

Porter received attention nationwide for taking CEOs of big pharmaceuticals to task, but she was no match for then-Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) Senate campaign machine. Schiff outmaneuvered her in the state’s dramatic 2024 jungle primary. He made a risky gamble of securing his position by boosting a Republican contender, former baseball player Steve Garvey, and edging Porter, his toughest competitor, out of the race.