Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who has been a number one critic of the Trump administration, introduced on Thursday that he’ll run for governor of California within the 2026 election.
He made the announcement on his official marketing campaign web site, which went reside Thursday night time forward of a scheduled look on “Jimmy Kimmel Stay!” Swalwell acquired a standing ovation from the viewers when he then introduced his run on Kimmel’s present.
“I have been in these fights as a metropolis council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland and taking over probably the most corrupt president ever within the U.S. Congress, however I am able to deliver this combat residence,” Swalwell instructed Kimmel.
Swalwell, 45, joins an already crowded subject of high-profile candidates. Gov. Gavin Newsom can not run for reelection as a result of he’s term-limited by California legislation.
The sphere contains a number of different Democratic hopefuls, together with former Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and entrepreneur Tom Steyer, amongst others. Republican candidates embrace political pundit Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Swalwell represents the state’s 14th Congressional District, which encompasses a big swath of the East Bay. He has held workplace within the U.S. Home of Representatives since 2013, and earlier than that, he was a prosecutor for Alameda County. His political profession features a run for president within the 2020 election, throughout which he made gun management considered one of his major focuses and known as for a whole ban on assault rifles.
Whereas he runs for governor, Swalwell might also should take care of a possible federal investigation. Federal Housing Finance Company Director Invoice Pulte not too long ago referred Swalwell to the Justice Division over alleged tax and mortgage fraud, sources instructed CBS Information. Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing.
“The one factor I’m shocked about is that it took him this lengthy to come back after me,” mentioned Swalwell in a press release following the referral.
Swalwell and the Trump administration have a historical past stretching again to President Trump’s first time period. Swalwell described himself earlier this month as “probably the most vocal critic of Donald Trump during the last decade.” He additionally served as one of many impeachment managers throughout Mr. Trump’s second impeachment trial.
As well as, there’s an ongoing lawsuit filed by Swalwell towards Mr. Trump that alleges his actions led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
