During high school, he worked numerous jobs, including a bowling alley and as a gas station attendant and mechanic.

He then continued his work as a mechanic, an auto parts sales specialist and factory worker before enlisting in the U.S. Army.

[3] After his discharge from active military service, Porterfield started a professional career as a real estate appraiser.

[4] He supported former Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski in his unsuccessful campaign for Westmoreland County Commissioner in 1987.

He became close friends with Governor Bob Casey, Sr. during his time in office, and made a large effort to work across party lines to accomplish tasks for his constituents.

He is also directly credited for bringing in the now-defunct Sony plant to New Stanton, Pennsylvania,[citation needed] and securing key construction grants for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

[5] When rumblings of Porterfield's possible gubernatorial ambitions became more prevalent, he and his wife were selected as delegates to the 1992 Democratic National Convention.

The emergence of serious personal attacks against him, and the hard challenge he faced from Allen Kukovich in the 1996 Democratic Primary, ended Porterfield's campaign for the Senate.

In the Republican primary, Porterfield received almost twice the number of votes of his main challenger, Terry Marolt.

[5] Though James Gebicki (I) likely took many potential votes away from the Republicans,[citation needed] Porterfield filed a lawsuit against the sponsors of the scheme.