Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has officially entered the wide-open race for Governor of California. “California needs a fighter and protector. I’m running for Governor,” Swalwell wrote on X. The California Democrat used much of his campaign announcement video positioning himself against President Trump. “The next Governor of California has two jobs. One, keep the worst president in our history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives,” Swalwell said. Check it out: California needs a fighter and protector. I’m running for Governor. pic.twitter.com/foJ6PX58bq — Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) November 21, 2025 NBC News has more: Swalwell, who has served in Congress since 2013, will face a list of high-profile Democrats that includes former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and activist billionaire Tom Steyer, who entered the race to lead the deep-blue state Wednesday. Swalwell announced his gubernatorial run on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” On his new campaign website, the California Democrat focused on the need to tackle high costs and affordability as the reason he’s running for statewide office. Swalwell called California the greatest “country” in the world. The House Democrat told Jimmy Kimmel he’s “ready to bring this fight home.” Watch his announcement: Eric Swalwell goes on Jimmy Kimmel’s failed show to announce he’s running for Governor of California. “California is the greatest country in the world” "I came here to tell you and your audience, I'm running to be the next governor of California." pic.twitter.com/iGSB0NLumu — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 21, 2025 The Guardian provided further info: A former Alameda county prosecutor, Swalwell, 45, rose to prominence through his clashes with Trump, a profile that could bolster his appeal among Democratic voters who in November overwhelmingly approved a new congressional map pitched as a way to check the president’s power before next year’s midterm elections. Swalwell briefly sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and later served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial, which centered on Trump’s role in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. On Capitol Hill, he served for eight years on the House intelligence committee, including the CIA subcommittee, and was a key Democratic voice on national security and election interference issues. He is also a founding member of the Future Forum caucus, aimed at representing young voters in Congress. Polling shows the contest lacks a clear frontrunner after the former vice-president Kamala Harris and California senator Alex Padilla declined to run. The former representative Katie Porter led early surveys, but has struggled to shake off concerns about her temperament after she threatened to walk out of a local television interview and after footage surfaced of her berating a staff member. Porter has since apologized for her behavior but reports suggest Democratic strategists are searching for an alternative.