- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) officially launched his campaign for California governor on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, positioning himself as a fighter against corruption and economic struggles.
- Just before his announcement, FHFA Director Bill Pulte filed a criminal referral accusing Swalwell of mortgage and tax fraud related to a D.C. property purchase. Swalwell dismissed it as a politically motivated smear.
- Swalwell joins a competitive race with contenders like Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Antonio Villaraigosa, though his late entry leaves him at a financial disadvantage with only $500K in campaign funds.
- His failed 2020 presidential bid and ties to suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang (despite being cleared by the House Ethics Committee) remain vulnerabilities, fueling concerns about national security and corruption.
- Swalwell plans to leverage his anti-Trump reputation to rally progressives, but legal scrutiny and California’s pressing affordability/crime crises may alienate moderates, testing whether Trump-era divisions still dominate state politics.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a vocal Democratic critic of President Donald Trump, is set to join the Golden State’s gubernatorial race.
The Democratic congressman announced his bid for California governor during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday, Nov. 20. Swalwell, who has represented California’s Bay Area since 2013, framed his campaign as a battle against corruption and economic hardship.
“Our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector,” he told Kimmel. “Someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up.”
The announcement comes just days after Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte handed the Department of Justice a criminal referral alleging Swalwell engaged in mortgage and tax fraud. Pulte’s referral alleges Swalwell made false statements in loan documents related to a Washington, D.C. property purchase. The accusation against Swalwell mirrors similar probes targeting other Trump critics, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Swalwell dismissed the claim as politically motivated retaliation and a smear tactic. “The only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” he told reporters.
The timing of Swalwell’s announcement raises questions about his political viability amid mounting legal scrutiny. His entry into the race adds another contender to an already crowded Democratic field, which includes former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), billionaire Tom Steyer, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Swalwell’s desperate comeback: Will voters forget his Beijing-linked staffer?
Swalwell’s political career has been marked by high-profile clashes with Trump, including his role as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second Senate trial. Yet his own electoral track record is mixed.
His 2020 presidential campaign fizzled out early, and his association with Christine Fang – a suspected Chinese spy who volunteered on his 2014 reelection campaign – has provided fodder for conservative critics. Though the House Ethics Committee cleared him of wrongdoing in 2023, the episode remains a vulnerability in a race where national security concerns loom large.
BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine recounts that Swalwell was compromised by Fang, who infiltrated his political circles before fleeing back to China after the Federal Bureau of Investigation tipped him off. This scandal highlights the deep corruption and national security failures within the U.S. government, where compromised officials enable foreign espionage while evading accountability.
Meanwhile, Swalwell’s primary opponents face their own challenges. Porter, once considered a frontrunner, has struggled with negative publicity following leaked videos showing her berating staffers and accusations from her ex-husband of domestic abuse.
Steyer, a climate investor with deep pockets, announced his candidacy Wednesday, Nov. 19. Meanwhile, other contenders like Becerra and Villaraigosa have failed to gain traction.
Swalwell’s late entry into the race means he must quickly mobilize resources and endorsements to compete. With just $500,000 in his congressional campaign fund, he lags behind rivals who have spent months building donor networks. His strategy hinges on leveraging his national profile as a Trump antagonist – a tactic that may energize progressive voters but risks alienating moderates in a state grappling with affordability crises and rising crime.
As the race intensifies, Swalwell’s fate may hinge on whether voters see him as a principled fighter or a polarizing figure entangled in legal and ethical controversies. His campaign’s success – or failure – will serve as a litmus test for how deeply Trump-era divisions continue to shape California politics. For now, Swalwell remains defiant, vowing to press forward despite the allegations shadowing his candidacy.
Watch this video about Rep. Eric Swalwell refusing to answer questions about his campaign’s former volunteer Christine Fang.
This video is from the DoseofSarcasm channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
YourNews.com
DailyCaller.com
POLITICO.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
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