Swalwell & Steyer Rise: California Governor Race Update

A campaign ad released Friday by California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer attacks Representative Eric Swalwell’s attendance record in the House of Representatives, utilizing videos Swalwell himself posted during the 2025 government shutdown. The ad highlights Swalwell’s statements that he “should be working,” juxtaposed with footage of him at a pool and a gym.

Steyer’s campaign claims Swalwell missed 68% of votes since announcing his candidacy for governor, a figure that builds on data showing a significant number of missed roll call votes during the fall of 2025. According to GovTrack.US, Swalwell missed 102 out of 139 roll call votes, representing 73% of the total, between September 19, 2025, and February 9, 2026. This figure exceeds the number of missed votes by the late Representative Raul Grijalva, who passed away in March 2025, with Swalwell missing 95 votes in 2025 alone.

The ad resurfaces Swalwell’s social media posts from the 40-day government shutdown, where he criticized Republicans and stated his desire to be working. Steyer’s campaign frames these statements as contradictory to Swalwell’s actual voting record. The attack comes as both Swalwell and Steyer are seeing increased attention in the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, despite initial skepticism about their candidacies.

Swalwell and Steyer are both attempting to position themselves as viable alternatives in a crowded Democratic field. At a recent Democratic convention, Steyer advocated for increased taxes on wealthy individuals like himself, while Swalwell emphasized the need to “keep Donald Trump and ICE out of our streets and out of our lives,” according to reports. The California Democratic Party has not yet issued an endorsement in the gubernatorial race.

The focus on Swalwell’s voting record also draws attention to earlier scrutiny regarding his past interactions with individuals connected to the Chinese Communist Party. An unearthed photograph of Swalwell meeting with a top CCP official has raised concerns, described as “very disturbing” by some observers.