Eric Swalwell, a Democrat Congressman from California, just made a big announcement: he’s running for governor of California. But behind the flashy website and bold promises, there’s a lot more to the story—and not all of it is pretty.
On his campaign website, Swalwell paints himself as a hometown hero. He says he grew up in Dublin, California, the son of a police officer and small business owner. He talks about his time as a prosecutor, city councilman, and Congressman. Most of all, he calls himself the “fiercest face of Democratic resistance,” especially against President Trump, who is once again leading the country.
In his campaign message, Swalwell says he’s running for governor because “prices are too high and people are scared.” He claims California is “under attack” and blames President Trump for it. He says Trump has “militarized our streets” and “canceled cancer research,” and he promises to keep the President “out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives.” For Swalwell, this isn’t just about fixing California—it’s about fighting Trump at every turn.
But here’s where things get cloudy.
Swalwell’s record isn’t as clean as he wants voters to believe. Back in 2020, a bombshell report revealed that he had a close relationship—possibly romantic—with a woman named Fang Fang, who turned out to be a spy for the Chinese Communist Party. U.S. intelligence sources confirmed she was targeting rising politicians in California. Swalwell cut ties with her after he was warned by federal officials, but the damage was already done. And yet, he stayed on the House Intelligence Committee for years afterward.
That wasn’t the only scandal. Swalwell has also been criticized for misusing campaign funds. Public records show he spent millions of dollars meant for campaign activities on luxurious personal expenses. These include fancy meals at Four Seasons steakhouses, expensive childcare, and even a stay at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai—known as the world’s only “seven-star hotel.” That’s not exactly the lifestyle of someone who claims to fight for the working class.
Then there are his finances. According to Gateway Pundit and journalist Joel Gilbert, Swalwell is deep in debt. He reportedly has large unpaid student loans, big credit card bills, and no real home in California—the very state he wants to govern. These financial issues raise serious questions about how he manages money, and whether someone in that much personal trouble should be trusted to run the country’s largest state economy.
Swalwell also continues to push the Democrats’ January 6 narrative. He brags that his lawsuit against President Trump is still active, even though most have been dismissed or lost steam now that Trump is back in office. He also says he led impeachment efforts and continues to investigate the events of January 6, 2021, years after they happened. For many voters, this focus on the past—especially a narrative that has been heavily politicized—might not be what they’re looking for in a leader who’s supposed to fix California’s current problems.
California is facing real challenges: a growing homeless crisis, sky-high housing prices, and people leaving the state in record numbers. Voters may wonder whether Swalwell is serious about these issues, or if he’s more interested in using California as a political stage to fight Trump and raise his national profile.
So while Swalwell may see himself as a bold fighter for the left, his past scandals, questionable spending, and obsession with old political battles make his campaign more complicated than he wants to admit. Voters deserve the full picture—not just the polished version posted on a campaign website.