Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of Capitol Hill’s most vocal critics of President Donald Trump, is officially running for governor of California — and he didn’t break the news with a press conference or a social-media video.

He did it on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

In front of a roaring studio audience, the 43-year-old Democratic congressman from the Bay Area walked onto Kimmel’s stage, smiled knowingly, and delivered what he called a message for “the great state of California — and a message the president probably won’t like.”

“This state needs a protector and a fighter,” Swalwell declared. “So tonight, I’m announcing that I’m running for governor of California.”

The crowd erupted. Kimmel grinned. And within seconds, political operatives in Sacramento and Washington were firing off texts that the already-packed 2026 gubernatorial field had just gained one of its most polarizing contenders.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited and national Democrats eyeing California as a bellwether for the party’s ideological direction, Swalwell’s entrance adds a new layer of drama, conflict, and celebrity flair — especially given his long-running feud with President Trump, a feud that has spanned two impeachments, lawsuits, and countless public barbs.

Now, that feud appears poised to define another statewide race.

A Star-Studded Launch — and a Strategic One

Announcing a gubernatorial run on a late-night talk show is not typical. But for Swalwell, whose second-most notable career legacy after politics may be his public clashes with Trump, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the perfect stage.

The congressman and Kimmel have forged a public alliance over the past year, united largely by their shared criticism of Trump. When Kimmel’s program was temporarily removed from broadcast scheduling earlier this fall, Swalwell made headlines for showing up to a House Judiciary Committee meeting wearing a “Kimmel” baseball cap in solidarity. He later posed with colleagues wearing identical hats Kimmel had sent.

So on Thursday night, taking the stage to cheers, Swalwell wasted no time linking the announcement to his ongoing opposition to Trump.

“The president is not going to like this show,” he quipped — only hours after Trump posted public criticisms of Kimmel and demanded that ABC fire him.

It was a bold moment: part theater, part strategy, part escalation.

And it capped a day of national headlines for Swalwell, who has long cast himself as a defender of institutions he says are under threat from Trump and his allies.

The Crowded Democratic Field He’s Entering

California’s Democratic primary is already one of the most crowded in state history. Swalwell joins a long list of contenders:

Democrats

Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor

Betty Yee, former state controller

Katie Porter, former congresswoman and high-profile progressive

Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general

Ian Calderon, former Assembly majority leader

Tom Steyer, billionaire climate activist

Stephen Cloobeck, business executive

Republicans

Steve Hilton, conservative commentator

Chad Bianco, Riverside County sheriff

Rick Caruso, Los Angeles developer, still weighing a bid

No Republican has won a statewide office in California since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, meaning the real contest will almost certainly occur within the Democratic field.

And Swalwell knows it.

“Anyone running as a Democrat will claim to stand up to Donald Trump,” one Sacramento strategist said. “The question is whether Swalwell can offer something more than that.”

A Feud Years in the Making

Swalwell has stood at the center of Trump-world battles for nearly a decade.

He served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second Senate trial.

He has frequently clashed with Republican leadership on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees.

He filed a civil lawsuit against Trump alleging responsibility for the January 6 violence — a lawsuit that has moved through the courts in various forms since 2021.

In return, Trump and his allies have often targeted Swalwell with taunts, nicknames, and accusations. Their feud is one of the longest-running and most personal between a sitting president and a member of Congress.

Swalwell’s candidacy ensures that feud will now spill directly into California’s governor’s race.

“This is going to get national fast,” said one Democratic consultant. “No other candidate in the field brings the kind of relationship with Trump — good or bad — that Swalwell brings.”

A Rough Month: DOJ Referral and New Scrutiny

Just weeks before launching his campaign, Swalwell made headlines when Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte referred him to the Justice Department over alleged mortgage and tax issues. Swalwell forcefully rejected the allegations, calling the referral “political payback dressed up as oversight.”

He accused Pulte — appointed by Trump — of weaponizing his position.

Political analysts say the allegation, regardless of its validity, arrives at a precarious moment as Swalwell steps into a statewide spotlight.

Others argue the controversy could energize his base, which already sees him as a fighter willing to take on what he views as abuses of power.

What Swalwell Says He’ll Fight For

Although Swalwell admitted Thursday night that he is still sharpening the details of his policy platform, he offered some clues.

On Kimmel’s stage and in follow-up interviews, he listed several issues:

1. Immigration Enforcement

Swalwell accused the federal government of carrying out “reckless actions that threaten California families,” specifically citing aggressive enforcement that he says disrupts communities and workplaces.

2. Medical Research

He criticized cuts in federal science and healthcare funding, saying California’s tech and biotech industries cannot thrive without support for research.

3. Public Safety and Gun Violence

Swalwell has long advocated for stronger background checks and federal gun reform. California already has robust gun laws, but he argued that the state must “lead the nation in preventing violence.”

4. Economic Security

Swalwell emphasized “protecting working families,” including lowering childcare costs, expanding housing affordability, and strengthening worker protections.

5. Defending California’s Rights

In one of his biggest applause lines, Swalwell said:

“Our state needs a protector — someone who won’t let Washington tell California who we can be.”

Can an Anti-Trump Democrat Stand Out Among… Anti-Trump Democrats?

Nearly every Democrat in the governor’s race is positioning themselves as a defender of California values against federal overreach.

This is where Swalwell must differentiate himself.

“Half the field is running against Trump,” said a UC Berkeley political scientist. “But Swalwell uniquely built his brand around confronting Trump directly. That gives him name recognition — but he will need more than that to win.”

His supporters argue that Swalwell brings:

National visibility

Experience handling political heat

Established fundraising networks

A younger, more energetic style

A record of standing up to a president many California Democrats oppose

His critics argue he lacks:

statewide experience

executive leadership

a detailed policy platform

distance from national partisan fights

That tension will define much of his campaign.

A Fight for California — and for His Future

Swalwell hinted that his entry into the race wasn’t only about politics.

“I’m running for the right reasons,” he said. “This isn’t about ego or ambition. It’s about protecting people.”

But the implications are clear: this race puts his political future on the line.

If Swalwell wins, he becomes the next governor of the nation’s most populous state — a position that often launches national careers.

If he loses, he must leave his safe Bay Area House seat open, triggering speculation about who may run to replace him.

Already, local officials in Alameda County and Contra Costa County are reportedly exploring potential campaigns.
A longtime California political editor put it simply:

“Once he made the announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live, there was no turning back. He is all-in now.”

What Comes Next

Over the next year, Californians will watch as the Democratic field battles over issues that matter deeply to voters:

housing affordability

climate resilience

policing

wildfire prevention

immigration

education

economic equity

Swalwell enters as one of the most recognizable names — but not the most experienced, and not the most ideologically distinct.

The race will be long. The stakes enormous. The personalities large.
And the national attention guaranteed.

Trump has already criticized the congressman, and more responses from the White House are expected. Swalwell’s team says they’re ready.

“He’s been in the fire before,” one adviser said. “He knows exactly how hot it gets.”

A Late-Night Launch for a High-Voltage Campaign

When Swalwell stepped off Kimmel’s stage Thursday night, he had just propelled himself into the center of one of the most competitive, unpredictable gubernatorial races in California’s recent history.

He had also reignited a feud with a sitting president — a feud now poised to shape a statewide and national narrative.

“California,” Swalwell said, “deserves a governor who will fight.”
And he left no doubt who he plans to fight first.