Eric Swalwell
Overview
Eric Swalwell is a Bay Area Democrat with a background in law enforcement and public service. A former Alameda County prosecutor who led a Hate Crimes Unit. First elected in 2013, he gained prominence as a House Impeachment Manager during the January 6th proceedings and for directly pursuing legal accountability against Donald Trump.
Raised in Dublin, California, as the son of a police officer and a small business owner, Swalwell emphasizes public safety, economic opportunity, and support for working families. He is married to a small business owner and is a father of three.
Why He's Running
Swalwell's campaign centers on the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty facing California families. He frames the governor's role as defending freedoms, lowering costs, and ensuring California remains a national leader in innovation and opportunity.
Key Campaign Priorities
1. Lowering Costs for Californians
- Housing: Declare a statewide housing emergency; implement a 90-day permit deadline; streamline approvals; hold cities accountable for actual construction; increase supply by using state land resources
- Insurance: Shift climate disaster costs from homeowners to corporate polluters
- Utilities: End monopoly pricing practices; refinance debt to lower bills, invest in a fire-safe, modernized grid with independent safety audits, implement net metering; scale up access to renewable energy
- Healthcare: Support transition to a single payer system; claw back federal funding cuts; raise revenue through sovereign wealth funds, corporate fairness tax to fund healthcare
- Corporate Fairness Tax: Incentivize higher wages and benefits; fund education, infrastructure, and healthcare
- Climate & Jobs: Expand renewable energy to reduce costs and create jobs
- "Wood for Good" Initiative: Use Forest overgrowth to create affordable, fire-resistant building materials and rural jobs
2. Protecting Democracy & Civil Rights
- Advocate for strong protections of democratic institutions and civil liberties
- Implement "Unmask ICE" policies requiring agent identification and accountability; includes restricting ICE/CBP from state and law enforcement employment
- End qualified immunity for federal agents
- Expand campaign financing laws to end corporate influence
- Strengthen protections for immigrant communities and vulnerable populations
3. Technology & Accountability
- Regulate AI to protect workers, ensure corporate responsibility, and safeguard minors
- Promote ethical innovation while maintaining California's leadership in technology and renewable energy
Endorsements
Labor & Professional Organizations:
Political Assessment
Political Strengths
- National profile & media presence: Frequent presence on national TV and political platforms; known as high energy communicator and Trump-critic
- Strong congressional network: Deep ties within Democratic leadership, ability to raise funds nationally
- Law enforcement background; experience as prosecutor
- Finished first at the California Democratic Convention with 24%
- Major backings from large unions, elected officials, and democratic networks
Political Weaknesses
- Perception as National vs State-Focused
- Apart from his role in the second Trump impeachment, his record as a congressman is undistinguished. Across his terms in the House, he has missed more than 10% of roll call votes, far above the median of 2.1 absences, and since September 2025, he has one of the highest rates of missed votes in the House, missing more than 50% of roll call votes
- Although he supports campaign reform in principle, his own campaign fundraising does include taking contributions from corporate PACs
- He is also involved in controversy over his alignment with right-wing Republicans in endorsing the recall of Alameda County District Attorney in 2024