California Congressman Swalwell Becomes Top Target in Governor’s Race

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell has emerged as the primary target of attacks from both sides in California's crowded gubernatorial race. Rivals are questioning his congressional attendance, residency status, and policy positions as he gains momentum ahead of the June primary.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s packed gubernatorial contest may have found its emerging frontrunner, judging by one key indicator: Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has become the preferred punching bag for nearly all his competitors.

As the June primary approaches in this wide-open battle, a wave of critical attacks directed at the House representative indicates that Swalwell’s main opponents believe he’s building steam in a campaign that’s been overshadowed by global conflicts, Washington chaos, and rising fuel costs.

According to his adversaries, Swalwell maintains a phantom position in Congress, may not actually reside in California, and supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who conducted raids in Los Angeles that sparked violent demonstrations. Swalwell’s team refutes these allegations.

“When someone’s profile rises above the crowd, the other contenders grab their hammers and try to beat them down,” explained Democratic strategist Roger Salazar, who isn’t participating in this race.

Armed with prominent backing from Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and the powerful Service Employees International Union California — combined with positive poll numbers — competing campaigns have intensified their offensive moves to counter Swalwell’s apparent progress. In a contest that hasn’t yet grabbed public focus, major endorsements can shift voter preferences.

“It resembles children’s soccer — everyone follows the crowd,” Salazar observed.

Born in Iowa, Swalwell won election in 2012 and serves a House district located east of San Francisco. He began a White House bid in April 2019 but ended it months later when he couldn’t gain traction with voters. His national recognition stems primarily from serving as a House manager during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment proceedings in early 2021.

Billionaire hedge fund executive turned progressive advocate Tom Steyer, among the top Democratic contenders, released an online advertisement ridiculing Swalwell for absent congressional votes, showing the representative poolside while House roll calls proceeded. Steyer’s team also challenged Swalwell’s California residency. Steve Hilton, an ex-Fox News personality and leading Republican candidate, claims Swalwell should be disqualified due to residency concerns.

Through correspondence to the state’s top election official this month, Steyer’s operation contended that Swalwell maintained California residence “in name only” and requested an investigation into the congressman’s gubernatorial eligibility. State law mandates five years of residency for governor candidates, though the California Secretary of State’s Office considers this requirement unenforceable.

The office didn’t immediately respond to inquiries about the request’s status.

The California Post recently dispatched a journalist to Swalwell’s registered Bay Area address. The publication spoke with neighbors who claimed they’d never encountered Swalwell. However, Swalwell’s property owner submitted official documents to the secretary of state confirming the congressman and his spouse have leased the residence since 2017. “He resides at the property,” the paperwork stated.

Swalwell explained he gets numerous death threats and maintains address privacy for family protection, accusing Steyer and the news organization of endangering them. His campaign notes his housing situation mirrors other California House members. He keeps two homes, one in-state and another in Washington.

Swalwell was absent for September votes following his mother’s passing, but campaign spokesman Micah Beasley noted the congressman “has consistently appeared for significant or tight votes.”

“Tom Steyer has spent $100 MILLION lying about me,” Swalwell declared on social platform X.

Former Representative Katie Porter, another top Democratic candidate, has criticized Swalwell for what she characterizes as his immigration enforcement support.

“Eric Swalwell voted to thank ICE,” Porter stated in a supporter email. “ICE needs to be abolished, not thanked.”

Swalwell’s team verified he joined 75 Democrats supporting a GOP-backed resolution last year condemning an attack at a Colorado pro-Israeli hostage demonstration that killed one woman. The measure expressed “gratitude” toward law enforcement, including ICE.

His campaign emphasized he’s proposed ICE activity limitations, requiring agents to remove face coverings and show official credentials. “If anyone Rep. Swalwell has targeted more than Trump, it’s ICE,” Beasley stated.

With mail-in balloting starting in early May, candidates are competing for position in a race where tiny margins could determine results. This election represents the first gubernatorial contest since voters approved the state’s “top two” primary format over ten years ago without a clear favorite, drawing multiple Democrats into competition.

Democrats are openly worried their numerous candidates will damage each other and permit two Republicans to reach the November election. Even in this heavily Democratic state, an all-Republican general election remains possible under the unique top-two system, which places all candidates on a single ballot and advances the two highest vote-getters regardless of party affiliation.

Recent surveys by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California showed the field had separated into two groups, with Swalwell, Hilton, Porter, Steyer and Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in tight competition, while other candidates lagged behind.

Swalwell confronts the same difficulty as fellow Democrats — distinguishing himself in a field where candidates largely align on many positions, including opposing Trump’s policies and reducing living costs in a state with among America’s highest housing expenses, taxes and utility rates.

Despite Swalwell securing the valuable SEIU endorsement, “there remains a small opening” for another Democratic candidate to surge ahead, said Democratic political consultant Elizabeth Ashford.

“There is energy behind Swalwell,” she noted. “I’m just uncertain it has reached the critical point of like, ‘Okay, this is the obvious leader.'”

The uncertainty surrounding the race to succeed outgoing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was highlighted by an unusual but not unheard-of choice by the influential California Federation of Labor Unions, which backed four competing Democrats — Swalwell, Steyer, Villaraigosa and Porter. Each maintains extensive labor collaboration history.

Federation President Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher said the race’s dynamics remain fluid.

“I believe you’ll continue seeing considerable fluctuation before things truly stabilize,” she added.