Eric Swalwell


Eric Michael Swalwell (born November 16, 1980) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 15th congressional district since 2013. His district covers most of eastern Alameda County and part of central Contra Costa County. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Born in Iowa, Swalwell spent his childhood in Dublin, California. He was a first-generation college student, having briefly attended Campbell University on a soccer scholarship before earning degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. As a college student, Swalwell served as a student liaison to the College Park City Council and interned for Ellen Tauscher.

After college, Swalwell returned to California and worked as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County. He was appointed to multiple municipal commissions in Dublin and later served two years on the Dublin City Council. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, defeating 40-year incumbent Pete Stark in an upset.

Swalwell has co-chaired the House Democratic Steering Committee since 2017. He was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries from April to July 2019 before dropping out and endorsing Joe Biden.

Swalwell was born on November 16, 1980, in Sac City, Iowa. He is the oldest of four sons of Eric Nelson Swalwell and Vicky Joe Swalwell, both of whom are Republicans.[1] During his early childhood, his father served as police chief in Algona, Iowa. After leaving Iowa, the family eventually settled in Dublin, California.[2] He graduated from Wells Middle School and then from Dublin High School in 1999.[3] As a child, Swalwell suffered from Bell's palsy and worried the paralysis would never go away. To treat the condition, he had to wear an eyepatch.[4]

Swalwell attended Campbell University in North Carolina on a soccer scholarship from 1999 to 2001.[5][6] He broke both his thumbs during his sophomore year in 2001, ending the scholarship.[2][7] Swalwell then transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received a bachelor of arts in government and politics in 2003.[5] He then received a juris doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2006.[8]


Representative Eric Swalwell on the Capitol Hill steps with friends, family, and campaign staff, 2013
Swalwell meets with President Barack Obama on February 12, 2015.
Eric Swalwell speaking to the California Democratic Party State Convention in June 2019