A Democratic California Congressman on Thursday announced a run for California governor, joining several other state leaders.Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents most of eastern Alameda County and part of central Contra Costa County, made the announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.”I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared,” reads Swalwell’s campaign website. Swalwell says California’s next governor has two jobs: defending the state from President Donald Trump and helping bring in a “new California” that’s more affordable for its residents. He says homes and jobs are his priority in accomplishing the second goal.Swalwell was born in Iowa but raised in Dublin, California. He says he was “raised by Republicans,” and worked a number of different jobs in his youth before attending the University of Maryland. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013 for District 15, and was elected as District 14’s representative in 2023. He served eight years on the House Intelligence Committee and helped lead the House Investigation into the first and second impeachments of President Trump. He also notes that his January 6 lawsuit is one of the only lawsuits against the president that has so far survived Trump’s second term in office.”My promise is this: if you work hard you should do better for yourself and dream bigger for your kids. That’s the new California promise,” Swalwell’s campaign message states.He joins several candidates running to take over for Gov. Gavin Newsom after he terms out next year. On the Democratic side, the prominent candidates include:Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier BecerraFormer U.S. Rep. Katie PorterCalifornia State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony ThurmondCalifornia Democratic Party Vice Chair Betty YeeFormer California Assembly Majority Leader Ian CalderonBillionaire and climate change activist Tom SteyerThe two standout Republican candidates are former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.See the full list here. The primary election for California’s governor is on June 2, 2026.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

A Democratic California Congressman on Thursday announced a run for California governor, joining several other state leaders.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents most of eastern Alameda County and part of central Contra Costa County, made the announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

“I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared,” reads Swalwell’s campaign website.

Swalwell says California’s next governor has two jobs: defending the state from President Donald Trump and helping bring in a “new California” that’s more affordable for its residents. He says homes and jobs are his priority in accomplishing the second goal.

Swalwell was born in Iowa but raised in Dublin, California. He says he was “raised by Republicans,” and worked a number of different jobs in his youth before attending the University of Maryland.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013 for District 15, and was elected as District 14’s representative in 2023. He served eight years on the House Intelligence Committee and helped lead the House Investigation into the first and second impeachments of President Trump. He also notes that his January 6 lawsuit is one of the only lawsuits against the president that has so far survived Trump’s second term in office.

“My promise is this: if you work hard you should do better for yourself and dream bigger for your kids. That’s the new California promise,” Swalwell’s campaign message states.

He joins several candidates running to take over for Gov. Gavin Newsom after he terms out next year.

On the Democratic side, the prominent candidates include:

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier BecerraFormer U.S. Rep. Katie PorterCalifornia State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony ThurmondCalifornia Democratic Party Vice Chair Betty YeeFormer California Assembly Majority Leader Ian CalderonBillionaire and climate change activist Tom Steyer

The two standout Republican candidates are former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

See the full list here.

The primary election for California’s governor is on June 2, 2026.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel