Outspoken Trump critic, Democrat Rep Swalwell launches campaign for California governor

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell launched his campaign for California governor, joining the crowded race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Swalwell, who represents the San Francisco Bay Area, said on his campaign website that he is running with "fresh ideas and tremendous heart,” POLITICO reported.

“I’m running for Governor because prices are too high and people are scared,” he also wrote on the site.

Swalwell joins former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former state controller Betty Yee, entrepreneur Stephen J. Cloobeck, former assembly member Ian Calderon, and billionaire Tom Steyer in the gubernatorial race.

The congressman, who has served seven terms, briefly ran for president in the 2020 election.

Swalwell appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night to discuss his campaign launch.

“I’ve been in these fights as a city council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress, but I’m ready to bring this fight home,” Swalwell told Kimmel on his show.

Last week, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte referred Swalwell to the Justice Department for investigation over allegations of mortgage and tax fraud related to a Washington, D.C., home.

The referral centers on allegations that Swalwell received several million dollars worth of loans and refinancing by declaring his primary residence as Washington, D.C., instead of California, and suggests the department probe whether the congressman committed mortgage fraud, state and local tax fraud, and insurance fraud.

"As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me," Swalwell said last week.