Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is reportedly weighing a run for California governor, a move that would immediately reshape an already crowded and competitive Democratic field. According to a new report from MSNBC, two anonymous sources close to the congressman said he has been seriously considering the race and could announce his intentions as early as next week.
The report noted that Swalwell has not confirmed his plans publicly, choosing instead to keep discussions within a tight circle of advisers, Breitbart News reported.
“Swalwell declined to comment when reached by MSNBC, but a source close to the congressman, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the private discussions, said Swalwell allies had asked him to run ‘to fill a “fighter/protector” role’ in the mold of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom,” MSNBC reported.
If Swalwell enters the race, he will face several high-profile Democratic rivals who have already signaled their interest in succeeding Gov. Newsom.
Former Rep. Katie Porter, who built a national following during her time in Congress, is widely viewed as an early Democratic frontrunner and would likely be one of Swalwell’s biggest obstacles.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the state’s former attorney general, is also viewed as a formidable contender with deep ties to statewide Democratic politics.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who previously ran for governor in 2018, is trying again with a more seasoned statewide strategy and could appeal to moderate and Latino voters.
Businessman and Democratic donor Stephen Cloobeck is also in the mix and has been signaling interest in mounting an outsider campaign.
Sen. Alex Padilla, long considered a potential contender, removed himself from speculation earlier this week when he announced that he would not run for governor.
MSNBC’s report also emerged at the same time Swalwell was hit with a new and potentially serious political headache.
“Earlier on Thursday, a Trump administration official referred the congressman to the Department of Justice for a potential federal criminal investigation over allegations of mortgage and tax fraud,” the network reported.
The nature of the referral has not been made public, and the Justice Department has not commented.
Swalwell dismissed the move as politically motivated.
The congressman responded directly, saying, “As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me.”
Swalwell has been a frequent political target for conservatives and has long maintained a combative posture toward former President Trump and his allies.
Much of that scrutiny traces back to a 2020 Axios investigation revealing that Swalwell had ties to Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang,” an alleged Chinese intelligence operative who reportedly cultivated relationships with multiple California political figures.
According to Axios, Fang assisted with fundraising efforts for Swalwell’s 2014 congressional campaign and helped place an intern in his office.
Swalwell cut ties with her in 2015 after U.S. intelligence agencies warned him and other lawmakers about her activities.
He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said he was the target of a broader foreign influence effort that sought access to promising politicians.
In 2021, Breitbart News reported that the U.S. Intelligence Community possessed a classified assessment containing detailed information about the relationship.
In 2023, the House Ethics Committee announced that it had concluded its review of the matter and would take no further action, effectively closing the investigation.
Despite the committee’s decision, the controversy continues to shadow Swalwell’s national profile and has resurfaced frequently whenever he takes on high-ranking Republicans.
A run for governor would renew that scrutiny in the biggest and most expensive state-level political contest in the country.
