Swalwell Launches Gubernatorial Campaign Amid Ongoing Investigation
WASHINGTON — Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has seemingly featured his Washington, D.C. residence, currently under investigation for mortgage and tax fraud, in a promotional video for his California gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell, 45, kicked off his campaign for governor of California on Thursday night. In the one-minute video, he vowed to keep what he described as “the worst president in our nation’s history” out of homes, streets, and lives, while also promising to reduce living costs.
However, users on X quickly noticed something was off. Many compared screenshots from his campaign video with images of his $1.2 million Victorian bungalow in Washington, leading to speculation that he filmed portions of the video at his home in D.C.
“From the stair railing and kitchen island light, it looks like Eric Swalwell filmed his campaign launch video at his D.C. residence,” noted one user. Others joined in, commenting sarcastically about his choice of filming location.
According to the California Constitution, candidates for governor must reside in the state for a minimum of five years. However, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office stated that they believe this requirement “violates the United States Constitution and is unenforceable.”
Records reviewed by the Post show that Swalwell does not own property in California and hasn’t been associated with any address in the state for around a decade, which dates back to when he was preparing for a congressional run.
As Swalwell enters a competitive primary to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026, he faces notable opponents. Former colleague Katie Porter is currently leading the polls with about 15.7% support from Californians. Other Democrats like former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa haven’t reached double digits.
On the Republican side, candidates like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and commentator Steve Hilton are polling at 13% and 11.3%, respectively, according to early polling averages.
Both Swalwell and fellow candidate Tom Steyer dropped their bids for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on Super Tuesday.
Recently, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pruitt referred Swalwell to the Justice Department for potential prosecution over allegations of falsely claiming his D.C. home as his primary residence. This declaration could lead to serious charges such as mortgage and tax fraud.
The FHFA’s inspector general is also conducting an investigation into suspected mortgage fraud associated with Swalwell.
Swalwell’s property, a six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home in Washington’s Eckington District, underwent significant renovations before he purchased it in 2020.
Notably, Swalwell was one of the impeachment managers following the January 6 Capitol attack, accusing former President Trump of inciting insurrection. However, he faced an acquittal in the Republican-led Senate.
After the criminal fraud allegations surfaced, Swalwell released a statement that didn’t admit any guilt but emphasized his commitment to advocating for Californians.
In California, gubernatorial candidates cannot be convicted of certain felonies, including bribery or embezzlement of public funds, according to state law.
Swalwell’s situation adds him to a list of prominent Democrats embroiled in mortgage fraud investigations.
Additionally, other officials, such as Senator Adam Schiff and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, are also facing scrutiny for their primary residence declarations improperly linked to obtaining favorable loan terms.
Representatives for Swalwell’s office and campaign have not responded to inquiries for comment.
