Swalwell’s Continued Presence on Ballots
For voters in the East Bay, Eric Swalwell is still a name they can’t shake off.
The former congressman, who resigned last month amid serious accusations of sexual misconduct, will appear on two ballots for local voters. One is for a special election to fill the 14th Congressional District seat, and the other is for California’s primary on June 2. Residents in cities such as Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, and Pleasanton should keep an eye out for their ballots.
Following the allegations, Swalwell stepped down from Congress and withdrew from the governor’s race. He’s remained largely out of sight since then, denying all claims against him.
The primary for Swalwell’s vacant seat is set for June 16, just two weeks after the gubernatorial primary. Voters will first choose a candidate to potentially occupy the seat in the upcoming Congress. Later in the month, they’ll make a decision on who will finish out the term.
If a candidate secures a majority in either election, they will take the seat outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will move on to a subsequent election. The special election is planned for August 18, while the general election will take place in November.
This special election was prompted swiftly by Governor Gavin Newsom right after Swalwell’s resignation. This quick action is seen as vital to maintain Democratic control in the House, especially since the passing of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa earlier this year took the governor ten days to address.
A variety of candidates are lining up to fill Swalwell’s seat, including notable Democrats like state Senator Aisha Wahab, former BART Director Melissa Hernandez, and educator Raki Israni. The Republicans in the race include real estate investor Wendy Huang, florist Dena Maldonado, businessman Tom Wong, and educator Jack Wu.
Some of these individuals are vying to permanently take over his position, while the special election will still follow the old district boundaries, contrasting with the new Congressional allocations set by Proposition 50 for the June 2 primary.
In a related twist, Swalwell’s former supporter, Stephen Klubeck, has recently found himself in hot water as well, having been arrested on multiple felony charges connected to witness tampering.
