Swalwell’s Gubernatorial Aspirations and Voting Record
Representative Eric Swalwell is eyeing the role of California’s governor, but it seems he might be shirking some of his current responsibilities. This Democratic lawmaker appears to be spending a considerable amount of time rubbing elbows with celebrities, leading to a notable absence from Congress.
In fact, Swalwell has racked up the highest number of missed votes among active House members, as reported by an analysis. He currently faces federal charges related to mortgage and tax fraud.
This year, he’s absent from 95 of the 342 total House roll call votes, and this doesn’t even account for his absence from committee meetings.
This number is significantly higher than Representative Nancy Pelosi’s, who, at 80 and recovering from a hip replacement, has also announced her plans for retirement in November.
Curiously, Swalwell has missed more votes than Rep. Raul Grijalva, who passed away in March. It’s worth noting that while health or family issues often account for missed votes, Swalwell’s absences seem linked to social engagements with high-profile individuals.
On November 20, he publicized his gubernatorial ambitions on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at the same time he missed two votes in the House, according to the Congressional Record. The timing is striking, especially considering he frequently supports the late-night host.
Since his last participation in a vote on November 18, he hasn’t cast any votes. Records indicate he also skipped two days of voting in February while attending the premiere of HBO’s “White Lotus” in Los Angeles. I mean, one has to wonder—what does this say about his commitment?
Political analysts are weighing in, with one suggesting that Swalwell’s dedication to his current role is in question. “It makes me think he’s been planning his run for a while, possibly at the expense of his responsibilities,” remarked San Francisco-based analyst David Ratterman. “If I were in his district, I wouldn’t be pleased.”
Democratic consultant Elizabeth Ashford shared similar thoughts, indicating that Swalwell’s missed votes could create complications for his campaign. “This feels like a misstep,” she commented. “People want to understand why their representative isn’t showing up.”
Interestingly, Swalwell’s campaign has not responded to requests for comments on this situation. Meanwhile, he has attracted significant financial support from Hollywood figures like Sean Penn and Robert De Niro, with contributions totaling $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. His relationship with the entertainment industry appears to be flourishing.
He’s also received donations from other celebrities including Jon Cryer and Kathy Griffin, each contributing $10,000. This might raise eyebrows—how is he balancing celebrity interactions with his legislative duties?
In October, Swalwell posted a video aiming to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement accountable, yet since then, he has been largely absent, missing a committee meeting where Democrats critiqued ICE’s actions.
House Members with the Most Absences
- Mikie Sherrill — Democratic Party — New Jersey — 171
- Eric Swalwell — Democratic Party — California — 95
- Brittany Pettersen — Democratic Party — Colorado — 91
- Donald Norcross — Democratic Party — New Jersey — 87
- Wesley Hunt — Republican — Texas — 77
- Josh Gottheimer — Democratic Party — New Jersey — 74
- Raul Grijalva — Democratic Party — Arizona — 69
- Frederica Wilson — Democratic Party — Florida — 58
- Maria Elvira Salazar — Republican — Florida — 53
- John Garamendi — Democratic Party — California — 50
- Dina Titus — Democratic Party — Nevada — 50
- Greg Cassar — Democratic Party — Texas — 49
- John Rutherford — Republican — Florida — 49
- Elise Stefanik — Republican Party — New York — 46
- Nancy Pelosi — Democratic Party — California — 46
- Jerrold Nadler — Democratic Party — New York — 44
- Michael McCaul — Republican — Texas — 43
- Kevin Marin — Democratic Party — California — 42
- Jerry Connolly — Democratic Party — Virginia — 40
- Mark Green — Republican — Tennessee — 39
Mikie Sherrill topped this year’s absentee list while she campaigned for governor, missing a striking 171 votes. Despite criticisms, Sherrill won the election and is set to be inaugurated in January.
California residents will vote for their next governor on November 3, 2026.
