Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor, vows to be ‘protector and fighter’
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced Thursday that he will launch a campaign for governor of California in 2026.
The congressman and longtime foe of President Donald Trump made the announcement on the late-night “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He did it while he was on the show.
“He’s going to hate tonight’s episode,” Swalwell wrote to X in response to the president’s social media post criticizing Kimmel for being “biased” and “lacking talent.”
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Representative Eric Swalwell announced he is launching a campaign for governor of California in 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Democratic lawmaker vowed to be a “protector and warrior” if elected governor.
The Golden State’s next governor should have two goals, Swalwell told the San Francisco Chronicle before announcing.
“One, keep Trump out of our homes, our streets, and our lives,” he said, adding that the second is to “write the story of the new California of low prices, business growth, and the modernization of the state.”
The congressman made the announcement on the late-night episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He did it while participating in the program called. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“I’m running to be the governor of all Californians,” he later told MediasTouch. “I’m the son of two Republicans, the son of a police officer, and I grew up in a law enforcement family. I also worked as a prosecutor. Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat in this state, I know that public safety for yourself, your children, and your community is a top priority.”
Swalwell is seeking to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, after the 2026 gubernatorial election.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell is seeking to replace term-limited California Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Getty Images)
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Other candidates include former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire activist and 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer for Democrats, and former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco for Republicans.
Newsom, who is term-limited as governor, has been tipped as the potential top candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
