Reevaluating the Swalwell Era
A meteoric rise from Dublin to Washington ends in scandal, leaving the East Bay to reckon with ambition, hubris, and poor character
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,243
—Just hours after Eric Swalwell was first sworn into Congress in January 2013, a C-SPAN anchor asked the newly elected lawmaker whether he planned to one day run for president. Swalwell smiled—but didn’t answer.
Over the next 13 years, East Bay voters would come to know him as exactly that kind of politician: a rapid riser in national politics, driven by outsized ambition and a constant pull toward a larger stage.
It all came crashing down this week. Swalwell resigned from Congress on Monday following serious sexual misconduct allegations, leaving behind shock and disillusionment among former staff, constituents, and local officials who once backed him.
An Unlikely Ascent
There was always something improbable about Swalwell’s rise—and, ultimately, just as improbable about the speed of his fall.
At just 31, the Dublin city councilmember with a thin electoral résumé toppled an institution—Pete Stark—in 2012. Two years later, he defeated another established Democrat, Ellen Corbett.
In a region that values seniority and relationships, Swalwell moved fast and disrupted the natural order. To some, it was a generational breakthrough. To others, it was a breach of the East Bay’s unwritten political code.
A Digital Native
Swalwell quickly distinguished himself in Congress—not through seniority, but through visibility.
He embraced social media early, even pushing boundaries by posting short-form videos from the House floor, irritating more traditional lawmakers. Swalwell pushed for voting remotely. He also initially positioned himself as a bipartisan problem-solver, helping to form the United Solutions Caucus with fellow freshmen.
But the political environment shifted bigly.
The Trump Era Launchpad
The rise of Donald Trump transformed Swalwell’s career. With a sharp, television-ready style, he became a near-constant presence on cable news, offering commentary on Trump and the Russia investigation.
His profile surged further when he served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment—an assignment that brought national prominence and historic weight.
It also made him a political target, particularly among conservatives, who would use one of the most controversial episodes of his career against him whenever they had the chance.
Fang Fang
The emergence of Christine Fang—known as “Fang Fang”—marked a turning point and an indication that Swalwell had a major character flaw.
Reports in 2020 detailed her efforts to build relationships with Bay Area politicians, including Swalwell. While there was no public evidence of wrongdoing by Swalwell and he cut off contact after being briefed by intelligence officials years earlier, the political damage was lasting.
The episode fed a broader narrative among critics: that Swalwell’s rapid rise and openness left him exposed. In the East Bay, the reaction was quieter but consequential, reinforcing doubts among insiders about his judgment.
It didn’t end his career—but it complicated it, and hinted at how quickly his national profile could become a liability.
Ambition on Display: The Presidential Run
Swalwell’s 2019 presidential campaign crystallized his political identity.
Framing himself as the future of the Democratic Party, he famously urged Joe Biden to “pass the torch” during a primary debate. The moment drew attention—but not support. His campaign never gained traction, often polling at zero percent.
For many in the East Bay, it confirmed a growing perception: Swalwell’s ambitions were focused outward, toward Washington and beyond, rather than rooted in his district. Swalwell’s visibility in the district also greatly diminished after purchasing a home in Washington, D.C.
The move was notable because Swalwell’s pledge to voters since 2012 was to be present in the district, unlike Stark who lived in Maryland, he argued. Early in his career, Swalwell highlighted his frequent cross-country flight by snapping a photo of his shoes as he boarded a plane, which was called “Swalwelling.”
A Gubernatorial Bid Without a Base
Although Swalwell’s campaign for president was viewed as foolhardy from the start and was proven accurate by his lack of results, his run for governor, beginning in November 2025, looked like the type of savvy political move that won him a seat in Congress more than a decade prior.
Unlike his presidential bid, the governor’s race offered a plausible path forward. Swalwell quickly landed among the top-tier candidates, polling around 13 percent at his peak.
But the campaign struggled to define itself. Was he a centrist pragmatist? A progressive reformer or merely defending the state from Trump? The message shifted, and voters noticed. Despite early positioning, he was never able to break away from the pack, although there were signs he was poised to jump ahead.
In the end, the campaign reflected the same core dynamic of his career: high visibility, but a limited and fragile base of support.
Out of Step at Home
Throughout his career, Swalwell remained something of an outlier in East Bay politics.
The region’s Democratic culture values coalition-building and long-term relationships. Swalwell offered a different model—media-savvy, nationally focused, and fast-moving.
That approach brought attention, but also skepticism. His policy positions often diverged from the district’s progressive center, and his early defeats of Stark and Corbett left lingering resentment among old-school party insiders.
Even as he continued to win re-election, his local support often appeared thinner than his national prominence suggested. The East Bay establishments rarely registered admiration for Swalwell. Instead, the relationship was kept at an arms-length.
Sudden Collapse
When the allegations surfaced, the political response was swift and unforgiving. What might have been survivable for a more deeply rooted politician quickly became untenable.
Allies quickly distanced themselves. Independent Expenditures Committees pulled funding. The prospect of an ethics investigation—and possible expulsion—loomed. His staff resigned.
Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday. By Monday, he had resigned from Congress.
The fall was as abrupt as the rise.
🎙️EAST BAY INSIDERS PODCAST
—EPISODE 129—A once ascending political career has is on the brink of collapsed. In this episode, we break down the mounting sexual misconduct claims facing Eric Swalwell.
—We dig into the long-running whispers that dogged Swalwell for years. What does this moment reveal about power, privilege, and the protection men often receive in politics?
FALL OF SWALWELL
—MCCARTHYISM—Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a longtime rival of Eric Swalwell, said on the ABC Sunday morning program “This Week,” that Swalwell’s reputation was well know in the halls of Congress. “Every member of Congress knows not to let any young staffers around Swalwell or Matt Gaetz. It’s not a secret,” he said.
—JUDGMENT AWAITS—Fellow East Bay Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, a ranking member of the House Ethics Committee, said despite Swalwell’s announced intent to resign from Congress, the investigation into allegations of sexual assault will continue. Swalwell did not announce a resignation date on Monday. However, when he formally resigns, the House Ethics Committee will lose jurisdiction over the matter.
—LOCAL TROUBLE—Not only is the Manhattan district attorney looking into allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, but so is the Alameda County DA’s office, the San Francisco Standard reported. “We became aware of recent media reports concerning allegations of sexual misconduct involving Congressman Eric Swalwell,” the news website reported. One of the allegations made against Swalwell occurred in Pleasanton. Oother allegations occurred in New York City.
—PROBLEMS AT HOME—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigation Eric Swalwell following reports that he allegedly hired a Brazilian national as a nanny without securing proper work permits.
—PRICE CUTS—The animosity between Eric Swalwell and former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has been evident for years, with Swalwell often gaining the upper hand.
—But Swalwell’s dramatic fall from grace has given Price an opening to strike back—offering an early glimpse of how his past alliances may now become liabilities for others.
—“I hope you know that Eric Swalwell, the disgraced sexual predator and accused rapist, endorsed Ursula Jones Dickson, the interim appointed district attorney,” Price said in a social media video.
—Price, Ursula Jones Dickson, and attorney Gopal Krishan are competing in the June primary to serve the remaining two years of the term Price lost following her 2024 recall.
—SUPES ARE SHOCKED—Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley said he stands in “firm support of sexual assault victims,” in a statement on Monday.
—“Rep. Swalwell's decision to suspend his gubernatorial campaign and to resign his congressional seat was, unfortunately, the only thing for him to have done for himself, his family and the electorate,” Miley said.
—“I consider Rep. Swalwell a friend and have worked with him on many occasions over the years. This is a sad day for us all.”
—In a posting on Instagram Sunday, Supervisor Elisa Márquez said a “trust has been broken. Many of us had hopes and dreams for a brighter future for California. These allegations against Congressman Swalwell are serious. I believe the survivor and this should be fully investigated.”
—Márquez is still dealing with similar allegations last month against labor leader César Chavez, she said. “These hits keep on coming and they hurt and they are difficult to process.”
—CA14 CANDIDATE—Matt Ortega, a Democrat in the 14th Congressional District primary to replace Swalwell, released a statement on Monday following news of his resignation.
—“Congressman Swalwell betrayed the district and all those closest to him with his actions. The first step towards healing begins with this resignation,” Ortega said.
—“We live in a time where the courage to speak truth to power is rare and the powerful skate by with impunity. Not today.”
—FISH STORY—Fish Stark, son of late Rep. Pete Stark, posted a blistering series of messages on X Monday morning that amounted to a pointed “told you so” to his father’s rival, Eric Swalwell.
—He referenced an infamous April 2012 candidate forum in which his father leveled a barrage of allegations against Swalwell—claims that were largely dismissed at the time as evidence of Stark’s decline. However, many of the allegations were proven years later to be true.
—“People knew Eric was shady,” he wrote in a follow-up post. “It didn’t matter. AIPAC, Big Pharma, and corporate Democrats wanted someone they could control. And they got him.”
🆕CLICK HERE FOR NOVEMBER CANDIDATE LIST
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on April 13:
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 2
—Elisa Márquez for County Supervisor 2026, Melecio Banuelos of Hayward, $2,500. TOTAL: $2,500.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Friends of Ursula Jones Dickson for District Attorney 2026, California Laborers for Equality and Progress, $5,000. TOTAL: $5,000.
PERALTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT - MEASURE A
—Friends of Peralta Colleges 2026 - Yes on Measure A, Paulina Gonzalez of Oakland, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
OAKLAND - MEASURE E
—Oaklanders For A Safe, Clean & Healthy City, sponsored by Labor Unions, IBEW Local 1245 PAC, $5,000. TOTAL: $5,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—David Cohen for California Senate District 10 2026, Kathryn Paul of San Francisco, $5,900; Coco Han of Saratoga, $3,500; Yuan Cao of San Jose, $2,500; Enping Tu of San Jose, $1,000. TOTAL: $12,900.
—Anne Kepner for State Senate 2026, Rod Cruickshank of Lake Oswego, Ore., $5,000; Adrienne Grey of Campbell, $1,000; Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $7,000.
—Scott Sakakihara for Senate 2026, Harpreet Bains of Union City, $1,050. TOTAL: $1,050.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Mia Bonta for Assembly 2026, Standing Committee on Political Education of the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO Small Contributor Committee, $5,000; SEIU Local 1021 Candidate PAC, $2,048. TOTAL: $7,048.
—Alex Lee for State Assembly 2026, Association of California State Supervisors PAC, $3,000. TOTAL: $3,000.
