Eric Swalwell

Eric Swalwell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Pete Stark
Personal details
Born	Eric Michael Swalwell, Jr. (1980-11-16) November 16, 1980 Sac City, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Dublin, California
Alma mater	Campbell University University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, Baltimore
Religion	Christianity
Website	House website

Eric Michael Swalwell, Jr. (born November 16, 1980) is an American politician from California, who serves as the U.S. Representative from California's 15th congressional district. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district covers most of eastern Alameda County, including Castro Valley, Hayward, Pleasanton, Livermore, Fremont, San Ramon and his hometown of Dublin. He was elected in November 2012, defeating incumbent Pete Stark, a fellow Democrat almost a half-century Swalwell's senior, who had held the office since 1973. Swalwell took office on January 3, 2013.

Early life and education

Swalwell was born in Sac City, Iowa and raised in Dublin, California. He graduated from Dublin High School (Class of 1999).

He attended Campbell University on a soccer scholarship from 1999 to 2001. He lost the scholarship after suffering an injury. He then transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park. He received a bachelor's degree in Government and Politics at Maryland, and later earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He served on the College Park, Maryland city council as its student representative.

"I learned to never stop working. Hard work will always be rewarded. Life’s not fair, not everyone starts at the same starting point. We should strive for that, having everyone start at the same place, but I realized other people would have better opportunities because of where they came from in life, and that the only way I could overcome those advantages was to work hard."

In 2014, Swalwell announced that he will serve as chairman of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's O' Say Can You See PAC's Young Professionals Leadership Circle due to his friendship with the governor. He made clear that his support is about the 2014 midterm elections and not an endorsement of a potential presidential bid by O'Malley in 2016. However, Swalwell did ultimately endorse O'Malley in July 2015.

Local political career

In 2001 and 2002, Swalwell interned for Ellen Tauscher, a United States Representative, in Washington, D.C., focusing on legislative research and constituent outreach and services. He worked as an Alameda County deputy district attorney, a Dublin planning commissioner, and a Dublin city councilman.

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 campaign

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2012

Representative Eric Swalwell on the Capitol Hill steps with friends, family, and campaign staff.

In September 2011, Swalwell filed papers to run for Congress in the 15th District. The district had previously been the 13th, represented by 20-term incumbent Pete Stark, a fellow Democrat. Stark had represented the district since 1973, seven years before Swalwell had been born. He took a leave of absence from the Dublin city council in order to run for the seat. While he was running for the seat, an attempted recall of Swalwell from the Dublin City Council was begun, but after he won election to US House, the attempt was later abandoned.

Swalwell was endorsed by the San Francisco Chronicle. During the 2012 election cycle, Swalwell was accused by the Stark campaign of being a Tea Party candidate. The accusation was refuted by Swalwell and the San Jose Mercury News, which also endorsed Swalwell. Stark refused to debate Swalwell during the campaign. In response to Stark's refusal to debate, Swalwell organized a mock debate with an actor playing Pete Stark, quoting him verbatim when answering the moderator. Other campaign gimmicks included Chinese-manufactured rubber ducks, and a dreadlocked, bearded information man. Swalwell was able to contest Stark after the primary due to a new primary system in California, under which the top two vote getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Swalwell defeated Stark 52.1% to 47.9%.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Transportation Security
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Oversight

U.S. House career

On December 12, 2013, Swalwell introduced the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act (H.R. 3771; 113th Congress) into the House. If enacted, the bill would allow Americans to deduct from their 2013 taxes any charitable donations made between January 1, 2014 and April 15, 2014 provided they are made for the relief of victims in the Republic of the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The typhoon did an estimated $1 billion in damage and killed thousands of people. Swawell said that "Typhoon Haiyan devastated many parts of the Philippines and we should make it as easy as possible for Americans who want to assist those affected by the storm." Swalwell saw the bill as providing "another incentive for Americans to donate and donate now - when their help is needed most." On March 25, 2014 this legislation was signed into law by President Obama. On June 17, 2014, as a part of the renaming of multiple post offices around the country, Swalwell introduced HR 1671 to rename the post office in Dublin, CA as the James "Jim" Kohnen Post Office. It was voted into law on a unanimous 398-0 vote.

During a house vote, June 18, 2013 Swalwell recorded a video of his vote against a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks to his mobile phone and uploaded it to Vine, an internet video service. His posting violated the House rules that state "No device may be used for still photography or for audio or video recording." He defended the action, stating "We operate under rules that were created in the eighteenth century, and I think it's time that the Congress start to act more like regular Americans do."

Political positions

Swalwell has advocated rescinding the No Child Left Behind Act, and increasing funding for education, while decreasing funding for defense. He has also advocated for renewable energy jobs to be created with federal stimulus money. He has stated he would attempt to raise the Social Security cap, with wealthier Americans paying into the program. He has proposed the idea of a "mobile Congress," with members casting votes remotely, while spending more time in their districts. In March 2013, Swalwell led in the writing of an open letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), opposing the new policy which would allow passengers to bring knives on board airplanes. He is also a supporter of same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

On November 16, 2018, Swalwell threatened American citizens with nuclear civil war if gun owners did not "find common ground" with his staunchly anti-gun position.

2020 presidential campaign

Swalwell, who served as ranking Democrat of the Subcommittee on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) when its then-director John Brennan organized a spy network to spy on candidate Donald Trump, presented himself to the nation as Trump-Russia witch hunter. While on the committee, Swalwell was a fake news source and classified information leaker. After the Mueller report, Swalwell persisted as a collusion hoax dead-ender.

Swalwell likened President Obama's negligence in dealing with Russian cyber attacks to 9/11. He refused to answer if he ever settled a sexual harassment lawsuit while in Congress, or if taxpayer money was used to settle such a claim.

He apologized for being a "white guy" and imagined himself in the make-believe world of the Marvel Avengers. He boasted of eating peanut butter at midnite as a qualification.

Swalwell's ideas were said to have the appeal of gas station suchi. Swalwell begged for $1 donations on his Twitter account, and won a Twitter poll as the Lamest Presidential Candidate Ever, Swalwell 71%, Kasich 12%, Jeb Bush 12%, Other 5%.

At the age of 38, Swalwell cashed out his retirement account. According to disclosure statements, Swalwell had no checking or savings account, leaving questions about (a) how he cashes his paycheck for his $174,000 Congressional salary, and (b) how he makes payment on student loan and growing personal credit card debt. On July 8, 2017, Swalwell decided America wasn't ready for the kind of leadership he had to offer.

See also

• Alger Hiss
• Harry Dexter White

External links

• Congressman Eric Swalwell official U.S. House site
• Eric Swalwell for Congress
• Eric Swalwell at DMOZ
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Mike Honda	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 15th congressional district 2013–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Chris Stewart	United States Representatives by seniority 354th	Succeeded by Mark Takano