Both Swalwell and host Kimmel have been on Trump’s bad side for years now, something political analysts say is a badge of honor when running for office in California. 

Swalwell’s decision to run follows allegations that the seven-term House member committed mortgage and tax fraud. He has denied those claims, calling them baseless and accusing the Trump administration of targeting him. Swalwell was a manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. Similar allegations have been leveled against the president’s other perceived enemies. 

News of Swalwell, 44, entering the governor’s race comes days after Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced he would not seek the post. Former Vice President Kamala Harris had also signaled she was interested in taking over Newsom’s office when he is termed out in 2026, but ultimately decided against it. 

Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) is considered a Democratic contender, but her popularity has taken a hit after she made national headlines for nearly storming out of a CBS interview, and old footage of her berating a staffer resurfaced. 

“I think he has a shot,” Lincoln Mitchell, a lecturer in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University who has written extensively on California politics, told the Washington Examiner of Swalwell’s chances. “There is no clear front-runner, and he’s a skilled politician.”

To succeed, Swalwell will have to set himself apart from six Democrats in the race who have uniformly cast themselves as anti-Trump, Mitchell added. 

California’s gubernatorial primary isn’t until June 2, which gives hopefuls eight months to lay out policy agendas and appeal to voter concerns. The top two winners, regardless of party, will move on to the general election in November. 

Swalwell, one of the most outspoken House Democrats, was raised by Republicans. Born in Sac City, Iowa, Swalwell grew up in California as the eldest of four boys. A Division 1 soccer scholarship allowed him to become the first in his family to go to college. At the University of Maryland, he was an intern on Capitol Hill for the late Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). After graduating from law school, Swalwell went to work as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where he led the hate crimes unit. 

In Congress, Swalwell served eight years on the House Intelligence Committee, where he was the chairman and ranking member, overseeing the CIA. He helped lead the House Investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and both impeachments of Trump.  

Trump has referred to Swalwell as a “nasty guy” and “a dog.” In 2024, then-candidate Trump referred to Swalwell as a “liberal Democrat who is talking to the Chinese spies.”

Swalwell was among several politicians contacted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, Christine Fang. He cooperated fully with federal investigators and was never accused of wrongdoing. The FBI confirmed that he severed all ties with Fang immediately after receiving a “defensive briefing” in 2015.

Kimmel, like Swalwell, has been on the receiving end of Trump’s anger. Most recently, Trump blasted the late-night talk show host after he claimed the president was “bracing for Hurricane Epstein.”

During his opening monologue Wednesday night, Kimmel implied Trump would be a major player exposed in the release of documents related to disgraced New York financier Jeffrey Epstein.

“We are carefully following the path of Hurricane Epstein right now. It is a Category 5. It’s expected to make landfall sometime very soon,” Kimmel joked on his show. 

Trump didn’t find it funny. 

TRUMP REVIVES DEMANDS ABC TAKE JIMMY KIMMEL OFF THE AIR

“Why does ABC Fake News keep Jimmy Kimmel, a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air?” the president posted on Truth Social early Thursday. 

“Why do the TV Syndicates put up with it? Also, totally biased coverage. Get the bum off the air!!!” Trump added.