Eric Swalwell, Congressman & Trump Foe, Running For CA Governor

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Eric Swalwell chose late night television to launch his bid for California governor, using an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC show to make his intentions public. Sitting across from the host on November 20 night, the seven term Democratic representative told viewers that he was ready to seek the state’s top job.

He framed the setting as deliberate, a way to signal both his willingness to confront President Donald Trump – who had tried to get Kimmel off the air and failed – and his desire to reach voters beyond traditional political venues.

Swalwell told Kimmel that California needed what he called “a fighter and a protector.” He said he loved the state and loved bragging about its status as the world’s fourth largest economy, yet insisted that economic strength meant little if residents could not afford to live there.

His entry reshapes an already busy race to succeed popular incumbent Gavin Newsom, who is termed out. It follows the recent announcement by billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, and adds to a field that includes former representative Katie Porter, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state attorney general Xavier Becerra and former state controller Betty Yee. On the Republican side, Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco and former adviser to David Cameron, Steve Hilton, are the leading candidates. Developer Rick Caruso is said to be considering a run.

Swalwell, forty five, entered public life as a prosecutor in Alameda County and later became known nationally for his combative posture toward Trump. He served as a House impeachment manager during the second impeachment trial, which examined Trump’s role in the January six attack on the Capitol. For eight years he sat on the House intelligence committee, including the CIA subcommittee, where he became a prominent Democratic voice on national security and election interference. He also helped found the Future Forum caucus to represent younger voters in Congress.