California Congressman Eric Swalwell entered the 2026 governor’s race on Thursday night with a high-profile reveal on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” becoming the latest Democrat to join an already crowded field vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 45-year-old congressman framed his candidacy around rising costs, public unease, and the looming clash he anticipates with the incoming Trump administration.
On his campaign website, Swalwell cast the race as both an economic and political fight, writes NBC News. “I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared. California’s next governor has two jobs. One, keep the worst president in history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives,” he said. He leaned heavily into his record as one of Trump’s most persistent antagonists, adding, “A lot of candidates talk about taking on Trump. I’m taking him on in real time. My January 6 lawsuit is one of the only lawsuits against the President that survived his new presidency. Speaker Pelosi selected me to help lead his impeachment, and today, I’m leading the Democrats’ effort in the House to investigate January 6.”
California needs a fighter and protector. I’m running for Governor. pic.twitter.com/foJ6PX58bq
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) November 21, 2025
Swalwell built his national profile during Trump’s first term, serving as a House manager in the second impeachment trial following the January 6 attack. He briefly mounted a presidential bid in 2019 but exited early after failing to gain traction. His combative posture toward Trump has made him a frequent target on the right, from 2021 claims alleging improper ties to a suspected Chinese operative—allegations dismissed by the House Ethics Committee—to more recent threats that prompted federal review, though prosecutors declined to pursue charges.
His entry into the governor’s race adds yet another contender to a primary with no clear frontrunner. The Democratic lineup already includes former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, billionaire activist Tom Steyer—who announced just one day before Swalwell—state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former state Controller Betty Yee. All candidates will compete on a single March 2026 ballot under California’s top-two primary system.
Swalwell’s launch also arrives as he faces a fresh round of scrutiny. Earlier this month, a senior Trump administration housing official referred him to the Justice Department for possible criminal investigation tied to alleged misrepresentations on mortgage applications for a Washington-area property. Conservative media reports allege the dispute centers on whether the home was improperly designated as a primary residence to secure more favorable loan terms—claims that could raise ancillary questions about tax, insurance, or even constitutional residency issues if substantiated. Swalwell has dismissed the referral as political payback, calling it retaliatory “nonsense” driven by his outspokenness toward Trump and his ongoing January 6 civil suit against the president-elect.
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