Trump 'fighter' Eric Swalwell runs for California governor

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has entered the California gubernatorial race in hopes of becoming the state's next governor. The House member has been in Congress for seven terms and will be making his bid in a full field of candidates. Current Governor Gavin Newsom will be ending his second term.

Swalwell made the announcement on Thursday in a campaign video, where he captioned it, "California needs a fighter and protector. I’m running for Governor."

"The next governor of California has two jobs. One: keep the worst president in our history out of our homes, out of our streets, and out of our lives," he said, then claimed "no one will keep Californians safer than I will, no one." 

He cited his efforts to impeach Trump and claimed that he will be able to bring "a new California" where people can afford a home, children, and the necessities of life. Swalwell rose to prominence with his role in the impeachment of the president in Trump's first term. Since then, he has tried to run for president in the 2020 race and has also remained an opponent of Trump.

Swalwell has previously been slammed online for his relationship with a woman who worked in his office who was later revealed to be a spy. The spy, Christine Fang, had worked on Swalwell’s campaign and had targeted politicians in California, including Swalwell. He was later cleared of any official wrongdoing in a House Ethics Committee investigation.

The field of candidates in the election include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra; Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco; former Fox News host Steve Hilton; as well as Democratic activist Tom Steyer, per CNN.