Eric Swalwell, a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, has officially announced his candidacy for the California governor’s race in the upcoming 2026 election. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 2, 2023, Swalwell expressed his commitment to addressing key issues affecting Californians, stating, “Our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector, someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up.”
Swalwell’s announcement adds to a crowded field of candidates, all vying to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. He emphasized his experience as a city council member in Dublin, California, and as a prosecutor in Oakland, where he took on significant challenges. “I’ve been in these fights… but I’m ready to bring this fight home,” he affirmed on the show.
Swalwell’s political journey has been marked by his vocal opposition to Trump, and analysts suggest this stance may resonate well with California voters. “There is no clear front-runner, and he’s a skilled politician,” noted a political analyst from Columbia University, highlighting the competitive nature of the race.
The California gubernatorial primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026. Candidates have several months to define their policy agendas and connect with voters, an essential task in a state that has historically leaned Democratic. Swalwell will need to distinguish himself from a group of six other Democratic candidates, all of whom have positioned themselves as anti-Trump.
Born in Sac City, Iowa, Swalwell was raised in California as the eldest of four boys. He became the first in his family to attend college, thanks to a Division 1 scholarship, and graduated from the University of Maryland, where he interned for the late Representative Ellen Tauscher. Following law school, he served as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, leading the hate crimes unit.
In Congress, Swalwell has held significant roles, including eight years on the House Intelligence Committee, where he oversaw investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and participated in both impeachments of Trump. His outspoken nature has drawn the ire of the former president, who has referred to Swalwell in derogatory terms, labeling him a “nasty guy” and a “dog.”
In a notable incident from 2020, Trump suggested Swalwell was involved with Chinese spies, a claim Swalwell vehemently denied. After receiving a defensive briefing from the FBI in 2015, he severed all ties with a Chinese national, Christine Fang, and was never accused of wrongdoing.
During his appearance on Kimmel’s show, the host humorously alluded to Trump’s ongoing controversies, suggesting that the former president would remain in the spotlight as new documents related to various scandals are released. Trump has criticized Kimmel and his show on social media, questioning the host’s talent and the network’s decision to keep him on air.
As Swalwell embarks on his gubernatorial campaign, he aims to leverage his experience and vocal opposition to Trump to appeal to California voters, who will have a critical say in the state’s political future. With the primary approaching, it remains to be seen how he will navigate the competitive field and connect with the electorate on pressing issues facing the state.
