Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat who played a key role as a House manager during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in 2021, has officially declared his candidacy for the governor of California.
During his announcement on ABC’s popular late-night show, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Swalwell expressed his intention to fight for the prosperity of all Californians.
“Our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector,” Swalwell stated. He emphasized the need for someone who can lower prices and increase wages for the residents.
Swalwell also took time to reflect on his confrontations with Trump, indicating he is ready to “bring this fight home.” He voiced concern over what he sees as an attack on California, criticizing Trump for militarizing the streets, discontinuing critical cancer research, and targeting immigrant communities.
The announcement comes on the heels of renewed attacks from Trump, who recently urged ABC to “get the bum off the air” regarding Kimmel’s remarks that triggered a brief suspension.
Swalwell represents a northern California district and has been in office since 2012. He previously ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries before retracting to support Joe Biden.
Currently, over a dozen candidates, including other Democrats such as billionaire activist Tom Steyer and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, are gearing up for the all-party primary scheduled for June. The top two candidates who emerge will then advance to the November general election to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.
