Swalwell Shakes Up Governor Race, Declares War on Trump Era

Paul Riverbank, 11/21/2025Eric Swalwell launches California governor bid, vowing to fight Trump-era politics and address soaring costs.

Swalwell, a Democrat from the East Bay who’s perhaps best known for being one of President Trump’s loudest congressional antagonists, opted for candor over fanfare. “Our state, this great state needs a fighter and protector,” he declared, his voice carrying the urgency of someone who’s watched plenty of adversaries square off on Capitol Hill. But his angle wasn’t just about resistance. He pivoted quickly to the anxieties filling kitchen tables across the state. “We can call ourselves the fourth largest economy in the world—and I’ll brag about that alongside anyone—but let’s be honest: What difference does it make if families can’t afford rent?”

That line lands differently in California, where reports of prosperity collide every day with the reality of sky-high living costs. Swalwell’s campaign video hammered this home, spotlighting neighbors squeezed by housing prices and local businesses caught between economic bragging rights and red tape.

His message is unmistakably aimed at voters who dread any return to Trump-era chaos, but he’s betting a promise of shared prosperity will cut deeper than anti-Trump rhetoric alone. “I’ll keep Trump out of our homes, streets and lives,” he promised in his first round of interviews, before shifting toward a more state-minded vision: "We're ready to write a new story for California—one about lowering costs, fostering real business growth, and modernizing everything from infrastructure to public services."

His roots, too, get a mention—always a point of pride in California, where family legacy matters almost as much as policy. “I’m the son of two Republicans, a cop’s kid, and I’ve walked both sides of Main Street and city hall,” Swalwell told MediasTouch. There’s a careful dance in his pitch: he’s homegrown, but worldlier now, and sensitive to voters on both sides of the aisle who simply want their streets safer and their wallets heavier.

All this lands at the starting line of a race that promises to be anything but dull. With Governor Gavin Newsom limited out, a who’s-who of state and national figures is lining up for a shot. Just scan the early call sheet: Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa. And that’s only the Democratic field. The Republicans, while fewer, are no less determined—Steve Hilton, once a staple on Fox News, and Chad Bianco, the plain-talking sheriff from Riverside, have both signaled they’ll fight for the governor’s mansion.

It’s not just a contest of resumes. Housing, homelessness, the price of everything—these are more than campaign trail talking points. In places like Oakland and LA, the stakes are visible on every corner. Californians like to vote blue, yes, but the fractures within the party and the state itself are easy to spot. Would a nationally-known name like Swalwell have an advantage? Possibly. His moment leading Trump’s second impeachment is remembered by Democrats across the country, though at home some still remember his short-lived 2020 White House bid with a shrug.

Swalwell isn’t shy about his record. “I’ve fought the hard fights,” he says—on his hometown city council in Dublin, in Oakland courtrooms, on Capitol Hill. The subtext is clear: if he can take on a presidency, he’s ready to manage California’s sprawling bureaucracy, negotiate its budget brawls, and navigate persistent crises from wildfires to wage stagnation.

Then again, in statewide politics, the playbook changes quickly. Name recognition helps, but so does a ground game and an ability to connect with voters whose biggest concerns aren’t always headline-grabbing. A lot of Californians are asking: Can anyone really bring down costs? Can Sacramento work for families again? And, perhaps most pressingly, who actually understands what it means to build a future here—not just for the elite but for the next generation of homeowners, renters, and workers.

Swalwell’s approach—equal parts combative and hands-on, national and local—makes for an early, interesting entrant in what’s certain to be a crowded field. There’s still plenty of ground to cover before next year’s election, and, as always, the lines between showmanship and substance will blur. But with his late-night rollout, Swalwell has staked a claim: he’s ready to fight for California, this time in Sacramento instead of Washington, and he’s betting the voters are looking for just that kind of brawler.

Late-night television isn’t usually the place you find major political ambitions laid bare, but Eric Swalwell decided to upend the tradition. There he was on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," not a lectern in sight, explaining to millions why he thinks he’s the answer to California’s next chapter. It’s a campaign launch tailored to the times—no rollicking crowd, no orchestration—just a congressman, a comedian, and a simple case for change in America’s largest, and arguably most complicated, state.Swalwell, a Democrat from the East Bay who’s perhaps best known for being one of President Trump’s loudest congressional antagonists, opted for candor over fanfare. “Our state, this great state needs a fighter and protector,” he declared, his voice carrying the urgency of someone who’s watched plenty of adversaries square off on Capitol Hill. But his angle wasn’t just about resistance. He pivoted quickly to the anxieties filling kitchen tables across the state. “We can call ourselves the fourth largest economy in the world—and I’ll brag about that alongside anyone—but let’s be honest: What difference does it make if families can’t afford rent?”That line lands differently in California, where reports of prosperity collide every day with the reality of sky-high living costs. Swalwell’s campaign video hammered this home, spotlighting neighbors squeezed by housing prices and local businesses caught between economic bragging rights and red tape.His message is unmistakably aimed at voters who dread any return to Trump-era chaos, but he’s betting a promise of shared prosperity will cut deeper than anti-Trump rhetoric alone. “I’ll keep Trump out of our homes, streets and lives,” he promised in his first round of interviews, before shifting toward a more state-minded vision: "We're ready to write a new story for California—one about lowering costs, fostering real business growth, and modernizing everything from infrastructure to public services."His roots, too, get a mention—always a point of pride in California, where family legacy matters almost as much as policy. “I’m the son of two Republicans, a cop’s kid, and I’ve walked both sides of Main Street and city hall,” Swalwell told MediasTouch. There’s a careful dance in his pitch: he’s homegrown, but worldlier now, and sensitive to voters on both sides of the aisle who simply want their streets safer and their wallets heavier.All this lands at the starting line of a race that promises to be anything but dull. With Governor Gavin Newsom limited out, a who’s-who of state and national figures is lining up for a shot. Just scan the early call sheet: Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa. And that’s only the Democratic field. The Republicans, while fewer, are no less determined—Steve Hilton, once a staple on Fox News, and Chad Bianco, the plain-talking sheriff from Riverside, have both signaled they’ll fight for the governor’s mansion.It’s not just a contest of resumes. Housing, homelessness, the price of everything—these are more than campaign trail talking points. In places like Oakland and LA, the stakes are visible on every corner. Californians like to vote blue, yes, but the fractures within the party and the state itself are easy to spot. Would a nationally-known name like Swalwell have an advantage? Possibly. His moment leading Trump’s second impeachment is remembered by Democrats across the country, though at home some still remember his short-lived 2020 White House bid with a shrug.Swalwell isn’t shy about his record. “I’ve fought the hard fights,” he says—on his hometown city council in Dublin, in Oakland courtrooms, on Capitol Hill. The subtext is clear: if he can take on a presidency, he’s ready to manage California’s sprawling bureaucracy, negotiate its budget brawls, and navigate persistent crises from wildfires to wage stagnation.Then again, in statewide politics, the playbook changes quickly. Name recognition helps, but so does a ground game and an ability to connect with voters whose biggest concerns aren’t always headline-grabbing. A lot of Californians are asking: Can anyone really bring down costs? Can Sacramento work for families again? And, perhaps most pressingly, who actually understands what it means to build a future here—not just for the elite but for the next generation of homeowners, renters, and workers.Swalwell’s approach—equal parts combative and hands-on, national and local—makes for an early, interesting entrant in what’s certain to be a crowded field. There’s still plenty of ground to cover before next year’s election, and, as always, the lines between showmanship and substance will blur. But with his late-night rollout, Swalwell has staked a claim: he’s ready to fight for California, this time in Sacramento instead of Washington, and he’s betting the voters are looking for just that kind of brawler.