This piece looks at Rep. Eric Swalwell’s bid for California governor and highlights attendance records, missed votes, celebrity appearances tied to his absences, and questions about priorities as he campaigns while collecting a congressional salary.
California is already familiar with leaders who spend more time campaigning than governing, and Eric Swalwell’s run for governor fits that mold. He announced his campaign on late-night television, proclaiming that “Our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector. Someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up” while also boasting about his TDS creds. Swalwell followed that rhetoric with the claim that “Our state is under attack” as he warned about threats to immigrant communities.
Those lines may play well on a talk show, but voters should look at actions, not just soundbites. One striking fact is how many votes Swalwell missed in the House this year: 95 out of 342 roll call votes, not counting committee truancy. That kind of absence rate raises a simple question: is someone who misses so many votes prepared to run a state as complex as California?
A national outlet noted that Swalwell “has missed the most floor votes of any active member of the House of Representatives,” and added that “Many of the absences also appeared to involve hanging out with celebrities.” Those are bold claims, and whether he’s hobnobbing on red carpets or on late-night sets, the result is the same — a representative absent from the job he’s paid to do. When a member misses more votes than colleagues who have faced health struggles, it stands out.
Swalwell, who is facing a federal criminal referral for alleged mortgage and tax fraud, has missed the most floor votes of any active member of the House of Representatives, according to an analysis by The Post.
Many of the absences also appeared to involve hanging out with celebrities.
Swalwell, 45, has missed 95 votes, not including truancy from committee hearings, out of a total of 342 House roll call votes this year.
[…]
The former prosecutor who represents parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties has even missed more votes than Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who died in March.
While absences are often tied to health or family concerns, Swalwell appears to have missed votes to mingle with celebrities.
That quoted passage is sharp in its assessment and includes an allegation of a federal criminal referral; regardless of legal developments, voters deserve clarity on whether their representative is prioritizing constituents. Over his congressional career starting in 2013, his attendance record remains poor by comparative measures. Reviews of House voting records show he has missed more than 550 votes out of 7,253 since taking office, which is roughly 7.7 percent of votes.
To put that in perspective, the average House member misses about 2.1 percent of votes. The math is simple: when the representative is absent, the district loses a voice on legislation and oversight. Californians who expect a full-time governor should ask whether a candidate who chronically misses votes is ready to manage an entire state’s operations and crises.
Beyond numbers, there’s optics and judgment. Swalwell’s late-night announcement and media appearances have suggested a campaign that leans on celebrity platforms rather than serious policy debate. When political theater replaces sustained engagement with state issues, voters should be skeptical. California confronts major challenges — homelessness, public safety, fiscal strain — that require steady, present leadership.
Swalwell’s critics point out that he already draws a $174,000 annual congressional salary while accumulating a record of missed votes. That figure is factual and underscores the point: taxpayers expect elected officials to show up and do the work. Running for a higher office while failing to attend routine votes on the job sends a message about priorities that many voters will find off-putting.
California doesn’t need another absentee executive; it needs someone who puts governing ahead of headlines and late-night applause. A campaign built on rhetoric about protecting communities rings hollow if the candidate’s record shows repeated absences from the core duties of representation. Voters should weigh those facts when considering whether to support a candidate for governor.
Add comment