UC Irvine Professor to Run for Congress

ORANGE COUNTY, CA -- A UC Irvine professor will run against Rep. Mimi Walters in the 45th Congressional District, it was announced Monday.

Katie Porter, a protégé of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, hopes to gain the seat in the 2018 election, according to The Sacramento Bee.

According to the newspaper, "Porter repeatedly linked Walters to President Donald Trump, pointing to the incumbent’s loyal voting record with him on the Republican healthcare replacement and repeals to consumer and environmental protections."

Walters, a Republican, has served in Congress in 2015. She previously served in the state Legislature and the Laguna Niguel City Council.

Porter, a professor of law, specializes in bankruptcy, commercial and consumer law. She was appointed by former state Attorney General Kamala Harris to be an independent monitor of banks in 2012.

Porter graduated from Harvard Law School and earned her bachelor's degree from Yale University.

--Photo credit: UC Irvine