Swalwell Enters California Governor’s Race, Adding to Crowded Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Representative Eric Swalwell announced his candidacy for California governor today,injecting a familiar face into a rapidly evolving race to succeed Gavin Newsom,who is term-limited after being first elected in 2018. Swalwell’s entry comes after a series of potential contenders opted against challenging for the state’s highest office, leaving a diverse and competitive field vying for the governorship.
the seven-term congressman gained national prominence during the Trump administration as a vocal critic of the former president from his position on the House Intelligence Committee. He previously launched a short-lived presidential bid in 2019, centering his campaign on gun control and a call for generational change within the Democratic Party. Swalwell’s decision to run for governor marks a important shift in the race, which has seen several high-profile individuals decline to compete.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California senator and attorney general, announced in late July that she would not seek the governorship. Earlier in the year, both former legislative leader Toni Atkins and Lt. gov.Eleni Kounalakis withdrew from the race. A campaign by former Rep. Katie Porter faltered following the circulation of videos showing her becoming visibly upset during an interview and confronting a staff member.
The shifting landscape created an possibility for Sen. alex Padilla, who was appointed to the senate in 2020 and subsequently elected statewide in 2022, but he announced in early November he would remain in the Senate, stating his commitment to his current role.
Other declared candidates include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra; Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco; former Fox News host steve Hilton; and billionaire Democratic activist and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer. Swalwell, who was removed from the House Intelligence Committee when Republicans gained control of the US House in 2023 alongside now-Senator Adam Schiff, will now compete for the support of California voters.
