Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell announced during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he was running for California governor, entering a crowded race to succeed the term-limited Gavin Newsom.
“Our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector,” he told host Jimmy Kimmel. “Someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up. We can say that we’re the fourth largest economy in the world. But what does that mean if you can’t afford to live here?”
Why It Matters
The race to succeed Newsom, a Democrat with possibly loftier ambitions, is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable since 2018. A wave of Democrats, and a handful of Republicans, are running for the highly visible position, but polls have suggested a wide-open race at this point, with no candidate having yet carved out a clear advantage.
California uses a “jungle primary” system, raising the possibility that a splintered Democratic vote could alter the expected outcome for the governorship.
What To Know
Swalwell, 45, who represents California’s 14th congressional district and is known nationally for his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump, said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “I love California. It’s the greatest country in the world,” to laughter from Kimmel at the deliberate hypernymic shift.
“But that’s why it pisses me off to see Californians running through the fields where they work from ICE agents or troops in our streets. It’s horrifying,” the Democrat added.
Swalwell’s campaign highlights his record as an impeachment manager against Trump during the president’s second trial, and his focus on affordability and public safety. During his Kimmel appearance, he emphasized opposition to what he characterized as political retribution from Washington, including cuts to cancer research funding for California’s renowned institutions, and referenced his personal experiences with cancer in his family.
A video posted to X to coincide with the interview, features Swalwell alongside his wife, Brittany Watts, and three children, announcing his candidacy. In it, he says the next governor has two jobs, the first being to “keep the worst president in our history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives.” The second is to usher in a “new California.”
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His candidacy adds to a field that already includes prominent Democrats such as former Representative Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and billionaire Tom Steyer. Leading Republican candidates are Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Recent polling by EMC Research showed a close race: Hilton at 20 percent, Porter at 16 percent, Bianco at 14 percent, and Swalwell at 11 percent.
Porter, though, is potentially vulnerable. The former congresswoman and Senate candidate has been under intense scrutiny following a viral interview incident and resurfaced abuse allegations from her divorce proceedings, allegations she continues to deny.
What People Are Saying
Steve Hilton previously told Newsweek: “Californians are fed up. After 15 years of Democrat one-party rule, the state is not working. People are tired of a corrupt system that rewards the powerful and punishes working families. The reason we’re leading the field is simple—voters are desperate for change, and they’re choosing someone with real business and government reform experience who offers a strong, positive alternative for working people.”
Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party, previously told Newsweek: “We look forward to electing another Democrat as California’s next governor in 2026.”
Josh Pulliam, Villaraigosa campaign strategist, previously told Newsweek before Swalwell officially announced he was running: “The last thing California voters are looking for is a third D.C. politician to enter the governor’s race, but the Villaraigosa campaign certainly welcomes Eric Swalwell’s candidacy with open arms.”
What Happens Next
The California primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026. The state’s open “jungle” primary system means only the top two finishers—regardless of party—move on to the general election. Several Democratic strategists have noted that the large number of Democratic contenders could split the party’s vote, raising the unlikely but possible scenario that two Republicans could secure both top-two spots.
Update, 11/21/2025, 6:31 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information