Swalwell — Unbelievably — Shoots to Top of CA Gov. Race Poll As Rival Questions If He’s Even a Resident

California politics keeps serving up surprises, and the latest poll putting Rep. Eric Swalwell atop the gubernatorial primary is one of the strangest; this piece looks at the poll numbers, the residency dispute raised by Tom Steyer, questions about Swalwell’s priorities and attendance, and what these dynamics mean for Republicans and the state’s future.

I live in California and have watched Gavin Newsom move up the political ladder despite a record that has made the state unaffordable and less safe for everyday families. The pattern of officials who thrive while cities decline has left many voters frustrated and ready to consider alternatives in the next governor’s race. That frustration helps explain why oddball poll results can still gain traction in a state as blue as the Pacific.

So it’s jaw-dropping to see Rep. Eric Swalwell leading some primary snapshots. He’s better known for attention-grabbing headlines, awkward macho posturing and viral tweets than for governing achievements. Seeing him tied or leading in a crowded field raises real questions about name recognition, celebrity influence and voters’ willingness to back familiar faces over competence.

A new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey of the June primary for Governor finds Congressman Eric Swalwell leading the open primary with 17%, followed by Steve Hilton (13%), Tom Steyer (11%), Chad Bianco (11%), and Katie Porter (8%). A quarter of voters, 25%, are undecided.

The jungle primary format means the top two finishers advance to November, which makes early polling chaos particularly consequential. Republicans Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco polling competitively is surprising and encouraging for conservatives, given the state’s deep Democratic lean. Some polls even show Steve Hilton overtaking Swalwell, which would be a dramatic development in a race most expected to favor establishment Democrats.

But Swalwell faces a potentially serious headwind on residency. Tom Steyer’s campaign argues that Swalwell’s living arrangements raise questions about whether he meets the state’s expectations for candidates. If a legal challenge sticks, it could derail Swalwell’s momentum or at least throw the race into further uncertainty and headlines.

In a letter Thursday, Steyer’s attorney, Ryan Hughes called Swalwell, D-Dublin, a California resident “on paper only,” noting the Democrat purchased a home in Washington D.C. and is registered to vote in a Livermore home he doesn’t own. Hughes urged California Secretary of State Shirley Weber to reconsider the office’s stance, dating at least as far back as 2018, that the state constitution’s five-year residency requirement “violates the U.S. Constitution and is unenforceable.”

“If elected, questions of legitimacy would hang over Swalwell, allowing the Trump Administration to sow doubt, exploit the ambiguity, and advance its perverse agendas,” Hughes said in the letter, which was first reported by Politico.

Swalwell bought a $1.2 million home in the D.C. area in 2020 and says he rents his California residence, which opens him up to precisely the sort of residency attack Steyer is launching. Beyond legal technicalities, the optics are poor for a candidate who wants to lead California but appears to live and raise a family elsewhere. Voters who feel ignored by career politicians will see this as another example of elites who don’t live with the consequences of their policies.

There’s also the matter of priorities and presence. Critics point out that Swalwell has missed congressional votes for appearances and Hollywood events, raising concerns about whether he treats public service like a stepping stone for fame. The pattern of celebrity fundraisers and entertainment world donors feeds into a narrative that Swalwell is more interested in spotlight and endorsements than steady governance.

Meanwhile, the celeb-obsessed pol has missed votes to announce his campaign on Jimmy Kimmel’s show & attend a “White Lotus” HBO premiere. He’s received generous donations from Hollywood A-listers, including $15K from Sean Penn and $10K from Robert De Niro, per campaign records.

Conservative voters should watch this race closely because California’s next governor will decide whether the state doubles down on failed progressive policies or starts to reverse course. A candidate who seems out of state, out of touch or more focused on celebrity than substance is exactly the kind of leader Californians can’t afford right now. That reality is why Republicans have an opening, even if the odds still heavily favor Democrats.

Swalwell’s rise in early polling may reflect name recognition and a fragmented field more than genuine grassroots strength, so the coming weeks will tell whether his support is real and sustainable. Meanwhile, the residency dispute and questions about his commitment to public service make him a vulnerable frontrunner and a tempting target for both rivals and skeptical voters.

Editor’s Note: California is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the Democrat Party and the “progressive” movement.