Eric Swalwell’s plan for California

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Congressman Eric Swalwell announced last month that he was joining the crowded race to replace California governor Gavin Newsom. The Dublin lawmaker enters a fluid contest with no overwhelming favorite. Recent polling shows Swalwell – along with former house member Katie Porter and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton – in the 10-15% range, with a small fleet of other candidates struggling to break out of the single digits.

Swalwell has been one of President Trump’s most vocal critics in the House and served as impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment. While that visibility likely increases his favorability with Democratic voters, it comes at a cost: he has been hit with allegations of mortgage and tax fraud by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Pulte, an ally of President Trump has made similar claims against two other Trump antagonists, New York AG Letitia James and Federal Reserve Board of Governors Member Lisa Cook. Swalwell strongly disputes the allegations and filed a suit against Pulte on November 25. Looking at the polls, the allegations don’t seem to have dented his star with potential Primary voters.

Swalwell joined us on Thursday for a conversation about his candidacy, how he plans to address the state’s affordability crisis, his experiences as a local official, navigating familial political divides, the temperature in congress, the Democratic Party brand, and much, much more.  Plus – Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:29 View from the continent

2:58 Capitol Weekly update

3:55 A Conference on Housing

6:26 Eric Swalwell

8:57 Affordability/Cost Crisis

10:30 A Republican family

11:41 “No hat rule in place”

12:23 January 6

13:53 “A day after Trump”

17:28 How to rebuild the Democratic brand

19:24 What is it like being in congress right now?

21:19 The generational shift

25:05 How did you break both thumbs?

27:06 #WWCA