Eric Swalwell

Eric Swalwell
Official portrait, 2016
Eric Swalwell
Born	Eric Michael Swalwell 16 11, 1980
Birthplace	Sac City, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Representative from California; 2020 presidential candidate; 2026 California gubernatorial candidate
Education	University of Maryland, College Park (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD)
Children	3
Website	[[swalwell.house.gov swalwell.house.gov] Official site]

Eric Michael Swalwell (born November 16, 1980) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative from California's 14th congressional district since 2023, and previously represented California's 15th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Swalwell first gained national attention in 2012 when, as a relatively unknown local prosecutor and city councilman, he defeated 40-year incumbent Pete Stark in one of the most surprising congressional upsets of that election cycle. Born in Iowa and raised in Dublin, California, Swalwell was a first-generation college student who attended Campbell University on a soccer scholarship before completing his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Maryland. In Congress, he has served on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and has co-chaired the House Democratic Steering Committee since 2017. Swalwell briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and, as of 2026, is a candidate for Governor of California.

Early Life

Eric Michael Swalwell was born on November 16, 1980, in Sac City, Iowa, a small town in the rural northwest part of the state. His family later relocated to California, and Swalwell was raised in Dublin, a suburban city in the Tri-Valley area of eastern Alameda County. He attended Dublin High School and graduated in the class of 1999.

Swalwell was a first-generation college student, meaning neither of his parents had completed a four-year college degree. He initially enrolled at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, where he attended on a soccer scholarship. He later transferred and completed his studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. During his time in College Park, Swalwell was politically active, serving as a student liaison to the College Park City Council. He also gained early exposure to congressional politics through an internship in the office of U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher, who represented the congressional district covering much of the same East Bay territory Swalwell would eventually represent.

Growing up in Dublin and later returning to the community after his education on the East Coast, Swalwell maintained close ties to the Tri-Valley region. His background as a first-generation college student and his upbringing in a working-class family became recurring themes in his later political campaigns, in which he presented himself as a representative of a younger generation of Americans seeking upward mobility through public education and civic engagement.

Education

Swalwell attended Campbell University in North Carolina on a soccer scholarship before transferring to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. While an undergraduate, he served as a student liaison to the College Park City Council and interned for U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher.

After completing his undergraduate education, Swalwell enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Law at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Following law school, he returned to California to begin his legal and political career in the East Bay.

Career

Early Legal Career and Local Politics

After completing law school, Swalwell returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and took a position as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County. In this role, he prosecuted criminal cases in one of California's most populous counties, gaining experience in the courtroom and familiarity with public safety issues that would later inform his legislative work.

While working as a prosecutor, Swalwell became involved in local civic affairs in Dublin. He was appointed to multiple municipal commissions in the city, building a record of community involvement. In 2010, he was elected to the Dublin City Council, succeeding Kate Ann Scholz. He served on the council from December 7, 2010, until January 3, 2013, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Congress.

2012 Congressional Campaign

Swalwell's entry into congressional politics came when he mounted a challenge against Pete Stark, the long-serving Democratic incumbent who had represented the East Bay in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1973. At the time, Stark was one of the longest-serving members of Congress and held a seat that was considered safe for the Democratic Party. Under California's top-two primary system, both Swalwell and Stark advanced from the June 2012 primary to the general election as the top two vote-getters, setting up an unusual general election contest between two Democrats.

Swalwell's campaign emphasized generational change and a fresh approach to representation. The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board recommended Swalwell, noting his potential to be an effective representative for the district. Later, ahead of the general election, the newspaper endorsed Swalwell outright for the 15th District seat.

During the campaign, Swalwell sought to counter attempts by some observers to categorize his challenge as driven by conservative or Tea Party interests. He explicitly rejected the Tea Party label, positioning himself firmly within the Democratic mainstream while arguing that the district needed a more energetic and responsive representative.

On November 6, 2012, Swalwell defeated Stark in the general election, winning approximately 52 percent of the vote to Stark's 48 percent. The result was considered a major upset, ending Stark's four-decade tenure in office and making Swalwell, at age 31, one of the younger members of the incoming 113th Congress.

Congressional Service

Swalwell took office on January 3, 2013, representing California's 15th congressional district, which covered much of eastern Alameda County, including Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Fremont, and Hayward. Following redistricting ahead of the 2022 elections, his district was renumbered as California's 14th congressional district, which he has represented since January 2023.

Early in his congressional tenure, Swalwell worked to raise his profile on national issues. In April 2013, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Swalwell's efforts to establish himself in Washington, noting his active engagement in legislative debates.

Swalwell was reelected in 2014, winning the primary and general elections by comfortable margins. He continued to win reelection in subsequent cycles, establishing himself as a safe incumbent in the heavily Democratic district.

In Congress, Swalwell launched the Future Forum, a caucus of young Democratic members of Congress focused on issues affecting millennials and younger Americans, including student loan debt, affordable housing, and access to technology and entrepreneurship opportunities. The initiative sought to highlight the concerns of a younger generation and to bring congressional attention to economic mobility and innovation.

In December 2016, Swalwell was elected co-chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, a leadership body within the House Democratic Caucus responsible for making committee assignments and setting policy priorities. The appointment placed Swalwell in a significant role within the party hierarchy and reflected his rising stature among House Democrats.

Swalwell has served on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, positions that placed him at the center of several high-profile congressional investigations and debates during the administrations of Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His membership on the Intelligence Committee, in particular, gave him a prominent role in oversight of the U.S. intelligence community and related national security matters.

During his time in Congress, Swalwell also engaged in legislative work related to international disaster relief. He was involved in efforts that led to the signing of a law allowing American donors to claim deductions for donations made in response to Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.

2020 Presidential Campaign

In April 2019, Swalwell entered the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary, joining a crowded field of candidates seeking to challenge incumbent President Donald Trump. Swalwell centered his campaign on gun violence prevention, making it the signature issue of his bid. He was among the youngest candidates in the field and sought to position himself as a representative of a new generation of Democratic leadership.

However, Swalwell struggled to gain traction in polls and fundraising in the large and competitive primary field. He participated in the first round of Democratic primary debates in June 2019 but was unable to build sufficient support to sustain his campaign. In July 2019, approximately three months after launching his candidacy, Swalwell withdrew from the race, becoming one of the first major candidates to exit the primary. He subsequently endorsed Joe Biden, who went on to win the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

2026 California Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2026, Swalwell announced his candidacy for Governor of California, entering a crowded primary field to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. As of February 2026, Swalwell has emerged as a notable contender in the race. Politico reported that Swalwell and fellow candidate Tom Steyer were "surging" in the contest, despite initial skepticism from parts of the political establishment when they first entered.

At the February 2026 California Democratic Party convention, Swalwell led among delegates in a straw vote on the gubernatorial race, though no candidate received sufficient support to secure the party's official endorsement. The Mercury News reported that the failure to coalesce around a single candidate reflected deep divisions within the party over the direction of the state.

Campaign Finance Controversies

Swalwell's use of campaign funds has drawn scrutiny. In early 2026, Fox News reported that Swalwell had reimbursed himself over $200,000 in campaign funds for personal childcare expenses, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. The practice, while not explicitly prohibited under federal election law at the time, generated criticism from ethics watchdogs who described it as a "slippery slope."

Personal Life

Swalwell resides in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has three children. Before joining the Democratic Party in 2003, Swalwell was registered as a Republican.

Swalwell has spoken publicly about his background as a first-generation college student and his family's working-class roots, themes that have featured in his various political campaigns. He maintains ties to the Dublin community where he was raised, having served on local commissions and the city council before entering Congress.

Recognition

Swalwell's upset victory over Pete Stark in 2012 brought him immediate national attention as part of a new wave of younger members entering Congress. His appointment as co-chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee in 2016 was a notable achievement for a member who had served only two terms at that point, reflecting the confidence placed in him by the House Democratic leadership.

His founding of the Future Forum caucus was recognized as an effort to bring the concerns of younger Americans into the congressional spotlight, focusing on issues such as student loan debt and economic mobility.

Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign, though brief, raised his national profile further and established him as a vocal advocate for gun violence prevention on the national stage. His 2026 gubernatorial bid has continued to attract significant media coverage, with outlets such as Politico, CalMatters, and the Sacramento Bee covering his candidacy as a serious contender in the crowded field.