California Governor Candidate’s Ties to Utilities Raise Questions
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for governor in California, has been promising voters a crackdown on utilities to reduce the high energy costs they face. However, it appears he has also received considerable financial support from PG&E, the state’s largest utility company.
Through his congressional campaign and political action committee, Swalwell secured over $113,000 from PG&E employees. This comes amid the utility’s controversial decision to raise rates by 101% over the past decade, which has left many citizens frustrated. With rising felony convictions associated with the company, some political figures have opted to distance themselves from such donations.
While campaigning, Swalwell and other East Bay lawmakers have emphasized their commitment to holding utilities accountable, especially as residents deal with some of the highest energy costs in the nation, alongside steep housing and fuel prices.
“As governor, I will hold our power companies accountable and expect those who benefit the most to help solve the climate crisis,” he stated firmly.
He insists that utilities need to be responsible and that they should take necessary steps to improve infrastructure. “We need to ensure that our power companies play a role in strengthening our communities,” he added during a recent social media campaign.
Swalwell’s ties to PG&E date back to 2014, with full donations recorded as recently as last year. Notably, he continued to accept contributions even after a tragedy in 2018 when PG&E equipment was linked to the Camp Fire, which tragically claimed 85 lives and devastated the town of Paradise. The company later pleaded guilty to multiple counts of manslaughter.
Following earlier incidents, such as a 2016 pipeline explosion in San Bruno that killed eight, PG&E has faced significant legal challenges, prompting figures like Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Nancy Pelosi to shy away from accepting donations from utilities perceived as monopolistic in nature.
A spokesperson for billionaire climate advocate Tom Steyer, who is also competing against Swalwell, critiqued the candidate’s willingness to accept funding from PG&E and other corporations, suggesting he compromises his promises in favor of financial support.
“Tom Steyer has committed to cutting utility costs significantly by dismantling monopolies like PG&E, and he does this without accepting money from them,” the spokesperson pointed out.
Electricity costs in California have skyrocketed by 39% over the previous six years, and PG&E currently has 13 rate increase requests pending approval. The company recently claimed that by 2026, the rates for typical residential customers would be lower than in 2025.
While Swalwell has consistently called for reduced utility costs and a push for cleaner energy during his campaign, criticism remains.
“Democrats lead the nation in electricity costs right after Hawaii, and they’ve nearly doubled in the last decade,” remarked Republican candidate Steve Hilton, who questioned the integrity of Democrats associated with PG&E.
Recent polls show Swalwell as a leader among Democratic candidates, but two Republicans, Steve Hilton and former Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, are also gaining traction. With the primary elections approaching, concerns grow within the Democratic Party about the potential for two conservative candidates to advance to the November ballot.
California’s primary system allows the top two candidates from any party to move forward, making the stakes high as many Democratic voters seem less engaged, causing some panic in party circles.
