Eric Swalwell Enters California Governor Race With a Late-Night Surprise

U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell has officially jumped into the 2026 California governor’s race — and he did it in a fun, unexpected way.

On November 20, 2025, Swalwell appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and announced his candidacy right on national TV. It was a clever move, similar to how some past politicians used late-night shows to connect with regular people. 

Think of Bill Clinton playing the saxophone in the 1990s or Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing his governor run on The Tonight Show in 2003.

Swalwell, 45, represents parts of the East Bay like Dublin and Castro Valley. He has never been shy of the spotlight. For years, he’s been one of Donald Trump’s loudest critics in Congress. 

Many remember him from the 2021 impeachment trial, where he served as one of the impeachment managers after the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Before Congress, he worked as a prosecutor and served on the Dublin City Council. He even tried running for president in 2020, although that campaign ended quickly. Now, with Trump back in the White House, Swalwell says he wants to protect California from the former president’s influence. He’s calling himself a “fighter and protector” for the state.

Before his appearance on the Kimmel show, Swalwell released an announcement video on social media. The message was simple: California may be one of the biggest economies in the world, but many people here still struggle. He said everyday Californians are overwhelmed by high prices and fear about their future. 

He spoke about young people who want what previous generations had — a chance to get a good job, start a family, and buy a home without waiting until middle age. Swalwell says he wants to make the state affordable again.

He also made it clear that he plans to stand up to Trump. In his video, he said California needs a governor who will “keep Trump out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives.” This message likely connects with many Democratic voters, especially since the state recently rejected Proposition 50, a Republican-backed measure tied to redistricting and election rules.

The governor’s race is wide open because current Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run again due to term limits. More than ten candidates have already entered the race, most of them Democrats. Big names in the primary include Katie Porter, known for her sharp questioning of corporate leaders; Xavier Becerra, former state Attorney General and Health Secretary; former Controller Betty Yee; state schools chief Tony Thurmond; billionaire activist Tom Steyer; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the Republican side, candidates like former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are running, but their chances are slim in a strongly Democratic state.

Political experts say Swalwell’s biggest strength is his long-standing opposition to Trump. He even has an ongoing lawsuit against the former president, and Trump’s Justice Department has labeled him a “target,” something that may energize Democratic voters who want a bold anti-Trump voice. But the next governor will have to deal with more pressing local problems: high housing prices, unemployment pockets, rising poverty, and unstable state budgets. Swalwell hasn’t released detailed plans yet, but he says his focus will be lowering prices and raising wages for working families.

Running for governor is a big risk for Swalwell. His seat in Congress is relatively safe, and giving it up means he could end up without any elected office if he loses. His short 2020 presidential run also shows that big campaigns can be tough. Still, at 45, he is young, media-friendly, active on social platforms, and well-known in the Bay Area. He hopes voters will see him as a straightforward, relatable candidate who isn’t afraid to take on powerful opponents.

California’s political scene is heating up, even as parts of the state deal with heavy fog and cloudy skies. Swalwell’s announcement created buzz, but the real challenge is winning the trust — and votes — of people who are tired of high costs and constant political drama. Whether his “fighter” message will work remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 2026 governor’s race just got more interesting.