Swalwell told Kimmel he’s running to be California’s “fighter and protector,” officially jumping into an already packed Democratic lineup aiming to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom when his term ends. His move also sets up a rare open House seat in the Bay Area.
Before dropping the big news, Swalwell took a few minutes to criticize former President Donald Trump and his administration — leading Kimmel to ask, “How do you stop this?” Swalwell’s response: passion for California.
“I love California… that’s why it pisses me off to see people running from ICE agents, troops in the streets, or watching cancer research get cut,” he said. “This great state needs someone who’ll bring prices down and lift wages up. I’m running to be the next governor.”
On his campaign site, Swalwell calls himself “the fiercest face of the Democratic resistance,” saying he’s running for two big reasons: fear and inflation.
“Prices are too high and people are scared,” he said. “California’s next governor has two jobs: keep the worst threats out of our homes and streets — and bring a new California focused on homes and jobs.”
He argued the state is “under attack” through federal actions involving law enforcement, funding cuts, and immigration efforts. He also highlighted his still-active Jan. 6 lawsuit and his past roles in Trump’s first impeachment and the House investigation into the Capitol breach.
Swalwell promised to focus on affordability, noting the average first-time homebuyer in California is now 40 and the state has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Pointing to his local-government background in Dublin — which he described as one of the state’s most prosperous cities — he said his message is simple: “If you work hard, you should do better and dream bigger for your kids.”
Notably, he didn’t criticize Newsom, who’s termed out in 2026 and widely viewed as a 2028 presidential contender.
Swalwell now joins a crowded Democratic slate that includes Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, and billionaire Tom Steyer. On the Republican side, candidates include former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
And yes — this isn’t the first time a California gubernatorial run has launched on late-night TV. Arnold Schwarzenegger did it back in 2003 on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” ahead of the historic recall that removed Gov. Gray Davis.
