Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

PeaceWave

(3,503 posts)
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 03:01 AM Yesterday

Katie Porter and influencer behind Swalwell allegations "don't have a relationship." Photos suggest otherwise...

The influencer behind viral allegations against gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell has academic and political connections with UC Irvine Law professor and rival candidate Katie Porter. However, the former congresswoman denies any direct relationship.

Swalwell has denied the allegations of inappropriate behavior with female staffers, which his camp argues are coming from online influencers connected to his opponents.

One of those influencers, Cheyenne Hunt, is a self-described progressive activist with a law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. That is the same law school where fellow gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter is a longtime professor.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/katie-porter-influencer-cheyenne-hunt-eric-swalwell-allegations/



36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Katie Porter and influencer behind Swalwell allegations "don't have a relationship." Photos suggest otherwise... (Original Post) PeaceWave Yesterday OP
Tom Steyer is probably going to be the one that will benefit more from this JI7 Yesterday #1
Or Becerra. nt SunSeeker Yesterday #2
Last two polls (both are pre Swalwell scandal): Celerity Yesterday #7
Kalshi only measures the interest of people actually putting money on the line. PeaceWave 23 hrs ago #19
and on what candidate(s) they are wagering said money, of course Celerity 23 hrs ago #20
This will be the first election cycle where we can measure Kalshi's accuracy. PeaceWave 22 hrs ago #21
Becerra has been in for a while and not getting anywhere JI7 Yesterday #9
True, he lacks money, and isn't very glitzy. SunSeeker 11 hrs ago #32
From my perspective after the allegations yesterday, I will either vote for Steyer or lostincalifornia 17 hrs ago #28
My hubby has been really swayed by the Steyer ads, so he's voting for him. SunSeeker 11 hrs ago #31
Aloha, SunSeeker... Cha 8 hrs ago #33
I love Katie, but sadly her campaign appears on life support...although she's ahead of Becerra. SunSeeker 7 hrs ago #34
I hear you, and Winning the Governorship is Cha 7 hrs ago #35
I don't know I think that's a tenuous connection mahina Yesterday #3
yes, it is weak and circumstantial (at least in terms of showing they were 'close' and/or working together) Celerity Yesterday #16
"...for women like myself." Good grief UC grad, it's "women like me." mobeau69 Yesterday #4
Influencer speak. choie 18 hrs ago #26
Saying "women like myself" is actually OK. highplainsdem 17 hrs ago #29
The reflexive pronoun 'myself' can be used correctly in that sentence as it lends added emphasis. Celerity 4 hrs ago #36
Message auto-removed Name removed Yesterday #5
Good morning LG Emile Yesterday #6
"influencer" Skittles Yesterday #8
She is the Executive Director for the political organisation Gen-Z for Change Celerity Yesterday #10
Kind of Trumpesque. bottomofthehill Yesterday #11
If this picture is supposed to prove something... 2naSalit Yesterday #12
Yeah especially since the sourse is CBS, a government propaganda outlet. Takket Yesterday #13
I'm not a California voter... 2naSalit Yesterday #14
Nope. Sexual assault isn't a game EdmondDantes_ Yesterday #17
Right, gotta remember CBS has lost ALL credibility!!!!! a kennedy Yesterday #18
yup Skittles 19 hrs ago #24
Someone should be held to account. Kid Berwyn Yesterday #15
Sounds like it's the King of Ratfuckers, Roger Stone. travelingthrulife 22 hrs ago #22
What does Roger Stone have to do with any of this? PeaceWave 20 hrs ago #23
I apologize for my awkward reply to you. If I had X I could provide a more complex answer.. I grabbed the folllowing fro Ninga 18 hrs ago #27
Two things xmas74 18 hrs ago #25
The truth will prevail. Joinfortmill 17 hrs ago #30

Celerity

(54,565 posts)
7. Last two polls (both are pre Swalwell scandal):
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:33 AM
Yesterday
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/california-governor-election-polls-2026.html

David Binder Research

Democratic sponsor
conducted April 1 to 6
April 1-6

Poll details:
800 likely voters.
Sponsor: Californians for a Fighter, SEIU California.

Results:
22%
Hilton
.
18%
Swalwell
.
13%
Bianco
.
12%
Steyer
.
11%
Porter
.
5%
Mahan
.
4%
Becerra
.
2%
Yee
.
2%
Thurmond
.
2%
Villaraigosa
.
10%
Don't know



Evitarus

Democratic sponsor
conducted March 31 to April 5
March 31 - April 5

Poll details:
1,200 likely voters.
Sponsor: California Democratic Party.

Results:
14%
Bianco
.
14%
Hilton
.
12%
Swalwell
.
11%
Steyer
.
7%
Porter
.
4%
Becerra
.
4%
Mahan
.
4%
Villaraigosa
.
1%
Yee
.
0%
Thurmond
.
0%
Would not vote
.
26%
Don't know
.
2%
Someone else


Tom Steyer has gained the most on the prediction market Kalshi since the scandal broke, followed by Matt Mahan, btw.

https://kalshi.com/markets/kxgovca/california-governors-race/kxgovca-26



JI7

(93,676 posts)
9. Becerra has been in for a while and not getting anywhere
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 06:05 AM
Yesterday

It's too bad because he might be one of the better ones in doing the actual job of governor.

SunSeeker

(58,323 posts)
32. True, he lacks money, and isn't very glitzy.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 11:39 PM
11 hrs ago

Californians seem to elect governors with big personalities…Gray Davis being the exception to the rule.

lostincalifornia

(5,409 posts)
28. From my perspective after the allegations yesterday, I will either vote for Steyer or
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:58 PM
17 hrs ago

Becerra. In the primaries, a lot will Depend on the debates.

SunSeeker

(58,323 posts)
31. My hubby has been really swayed by the Steyer ads, so he's voting for him.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 11:36 PM
11 hrs ago

He thinks Steyer would fight hard against Trump. He won’t watch debates. But I will. Becerra lacks charisma, but folks who know him from state service say he would be a good governor. Steyer could change my mind, and make me overcome my disdain for billionaires, if he does well at the debates.

Cha

(319,341 posts)
33. Aloha, SunSeeker...
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 02:23 AM
8 hrs ago

Are you not supporting Porter, anymore?

Mahalo... I understand what your husband is saying... JB Pritzker is a "Billionaire" and he is for the People.

SunSeeker

(58,323 posts)
34. I love Katie, but sadly her campaign appears on life support...although she's ahead of Becerra.
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 02:47 AM
7 hrs ago

My priority is to keep the governorship blue. I want to pick the candidate who will win the primary. We need to consolidate around a candidate. I am really at a loss how to do that at this point. Porter got a bad rap and lost support to Swalwell. But if he drops out, I doubt those people would go back to her, they’ll probably go to Steyer or Becerra. It would absolutely suck if we end up with a runoff between two Republicans because there were too many Democrats in the race splitting up the vote.

Cha

(319,341 posts)
35. I hear you, and Winning the Governorship is
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 02:53 AM
7 hrs ago

the Super Priority.

Good Luck California!

Celerity

(54,565 posts)
16. yes, it is weak and circumstantial (at least in terms of showing they were 'close' and/or working together)
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:20 AM
Yesterday

highplainsdem

(62,422 posts)
29. Saying "women like myself" is actually OK.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:03 PM
17 hrs ago
https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/wordroutes/more-musings-on-myself/

We all admire Obama's eloquence, and he would refer to "people like myself" - see the second of the quotes here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/daily-videos/2023/08/newshour-interview-with-president-obama

"Well, here's what I think -- that people like myself, who can afford to pay a little bit more in taxes, should do so in order to help people who are desperate for a little bit of security when it comes to their health care. - President Obama


Not the only time he said it. He said "people like myself" and "somebody like myself" here, for instance:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/26/remarks-president-town-hall-linkedin

Very common usage, even for well-educated people.

Celerity

(54,565 posts)
36. The reflexive pronoun 'myself' can be used correctly in that sentence as it lends added emphasis.
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 06:34 AM
4 hrs ago

Response to PeaceWave (Original post)

Celerity

(54,565 posts)
10. She is the Executive Director for the political organisation Gen-Z for Change
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 06:23 AM
Yesterday
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheyenne-hunt-7b921621b



Gen-Z for Change

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen-Z_for_Change



Gen-Z for Change, formerly called TikTok for Biden, (Spanish: Gen-Z X el Cambio, formerly Gen-Z por el Cambio) is a self-described progressive American advocacy organisation, founded in 2020 that uses social media to promote civil discourse and action among members of Generation Z.

It consists of a core team of 15–20 people and a coalition of over 500 content creators and activists, and partners with influencers, activists and celebrities to produce content for the organization.

Its advocacy addresses a wide range of topics such as abortion rights, COVID-19, student debt cancellation, climate change, income inequality, social inequality, immigration, racial justice, gun control, foreign policy, voting rights, and LGBTQ issues.

Collectively, Gen-Z for Change's satellites have 540 million followers and receive 1.5 billion monthly views on social media.

snip

https://genzforchange.org/

2naSalit

(103,117 posts)
12. If this picture is supposed to prove something...
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 07:19 AM
Yesterday

It proves that Katie Porter visits other Dems and their orgs, doesn't mean there is any closer ties. If you are going to accuse someone of something this egregious, better have some solid PROOF of the claims, something more than a picture that is nothing more than an autograph shared with someone in a crowd.

I don't buy the allegations and I don't approve of finger pointing without solid proof. This picture doesn't live up to the hype.

2naSalit

(103,117 posts)
14. I'm not a California voter...
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:14 AM
Yesterday

Haven't been for decades but I can see where things have to shift in this election in order to sin it. I don't like the sexual allegations game, gets too much use... not that there aren't a bunch of creeps out there running for office, just need caution in assessing blame. I wasn't thrilled when he announced his candidacy for governor but he is a good Democrat. After all he's represented in Congress all these years, it seems odd that he's suddenly a supposed sex offender. He doesn't seem like the hypocrite these claims make him out to be.

Have to wait and see, not all sources are legit and that needs more consideration than it used to require.

EdmondDantes_

(1,880 posts)
17. Nope. Sexual assault isn't a game
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:24 AM
Yesterday

Multiple victims who told people at the time, and reporting similar things, it's exceedingly unlikely that the victims are lying.

Skittles

(171,981 posts)
24. yup
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 03:15 PM
19 hrs ago

I remember a picture of Rosalynn Carter with John Wayne Gacy - didn't mean anything other than she met a lot of people.

Kid Berwyn

(24,569 posts)
15. Someone should be held to account.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:14 AM
Yesterday

If set up or not, Swalwell has been wrecked as a future presidential candidate, too.

As there’s a billionaire money around, I smell the ratfucker Rove.

travelingthrulife

(5,261 posts)
22. Sounds like it's the King of Ratfuckers, Roger Stone.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 12:08 PM
22 hrs ago

Gonna take out the top Dems in the Governor's race?

Ninga

(9,019 posts)
27. I apologize for my awkward reply to you. If I had X I could provide a more complex answer.. I grabbed the folllowing fro
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:24 PM
18 hrs ago

The Google.

“Out of curiosity... Why did Roger Stone tell Alex Jones that Democratic ...
1 day agoOut of curiosity… Why did Roger Stone tell Alex Jones that Democratic House Rep. Eric Swalwell's "campaign will be blowing up today" hours before the release of the San Francisco Chronicle article where an ex-staffer accuses Swalwell of sexually assaulting her (claims Swalwell denies)? Smells…”

xmas74

(30,063 posts)
25. Two things
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:11 PM
18 hrs ago

1- I'm holding judgment on Swalwell until more evidence. I'm a firm believer in believe victims but I also know the GOP likes to create stories like this,just to watch us eat our own.

2- A photo and attending the same university for law school doesn't necessarily mean a relationship. I had a photo taken with DJT when I was 16- does that mean we have an ongoing relationship?

It's either/or at this point.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Katie Porter and influenc...