Swalwell Announces Run for Governor of California

California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell declared his intention to run for governor during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday night, positioning himself as a defender of California against former President Donald Trump.

This announcement comes on the heels of a criminal subpoena from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Secretary Bill Pruitt, which alleges Swalwell’s involvement in mortgage and tax fraud. Swalwell has served parts of the Bay Area in Congress since 2013 and has made a name for himself as a vocal critic of the president.

In his chat with Kimmel, Swalwell stated, “Our state, this great state, needs a warrior and a protector, someone who will bring down prices and raise wages. I’ve fought as a City Council member in my hometown of Dublin, as a prosecutor in Oakland, and against the most corrupt president in the history of Congress. But I’m ready to take this fight home.”

Swalwell’s ambition for a gubernatorial run isn’t new; his entry to the race was reportedly anticipated. Before his formal announcement, there was some buzz around his campaign on the Democratic Party’s fundraising platform, ActBlue, though it was taken down shortly thereafter.

Politico indicated that some associates are urging Swalwell to adopt a more centrist approach compared to his competitor, former Representative Katie Porter. Swalwell had been previously appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial and has been active in various political discussions.

He expressed to Kimmel, “What the American people are saying right now is we want Donald Trump out of our homes, out of our streets, out of our lives and out of this studio.”

This isn’t Swalwell’s first venture into high-stakes politics; he faced challenges during his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, where he was one of the earliest dropouts.

In 2020, reports surfaced about a suspected Chinese spy, Christine Huang, who had ties to Swalwell’s campaign efforts. However, in 2023, he was cleared of any wrongdoing related to this matter by the House Ethics Committee.

Earlier this month, Democratic Senator Alex Padilla declared he would not enter the gubernatorial race, leaving space for others, including Swalwell and Porter. Other Democrats in the running include former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra, ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and several others.

On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are among the candidates. Recent polling has indicated that Porter’s support might be waning following a controversial interview where she abruptly ended the discussion. Additionally, past personal issues for Porter have also resurfaced, adding complexity to the race.

As of now, Swalwell’s campaign has not provided any immediate comments to inquiries about his candidacy.