Swalwell, Eric, 1980-

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. A member of the Democratic Party, Swalwell was raised in Sac City, Iowa, and Dublin, California.

While attending the University of Maryland, College Park, Swalwell served as a student liaison to the city council for College Park, Maryland. He then interned for Ellen Tauscher and worked as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California. Before his election to Congress, he served as a local appointee on Dublin commissions, and one term on the Dublin City Council.

Swalwell was elected to the U.S. House in 2012, defeating incumbent Pete Stark, who had held the office since 1973. Stark was a fellow Democrat almost a half-century Swalwell's senior. Swalwell took office on January 3, 2013.

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.

Swalwell was born on November 16, 1980, in Sac City, Iowa, the first of four sons of Eric Nelson Swalwell and Vicky Joe Swalwell, both of whom are Republicans; his father was then serving as police chief in Algona, Iowa. After leaving Iowa, the family eventually settled in Dublin, California. He graduated from Wells Middle School and then from Dublin High School in 1999. 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.

Swalwell attended Campbell University in North Carolina on a soccer scholarship from 1999 to 2001. He broke both his thumbs in 2001, his sophomore year, ending the scholarship. Swalwell transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park, as a junior. In 2003, he completed his bachelor's degree in government and politics there. He enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 2006.

At the University of Maryland, Swalwell served as Vice President of Campus Affairs for the Student Government Association, and was an elected member of the Student-Faculty-Staff University Senate and of its executive committee. He was also an active member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, and served as a student liaison to the City Council of College Park; the latter appointment inspired other college towns to consider similar arrangements.

In 2001 and 2002, Swalwell worked as an unpaid intern for U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher of California's 10th congressional district. He focused on legislative research and constituent outreach and services. The September 11 terrorist attacks occurred during his internship, inspiring him to public service. The attacks also inspired his first legislative achievement: using his Student Government Association position at Maryland to create a public–private college scholarship program for students who lost parents in the attacks.

After graduating from law school, Swalwell worked as an Alameda County deputy district attorney. He also served on the Dublin Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission from 2006 to 2008 and on the Dublin Planning Commission from 2008 to 2010 before winning election to the Dublin City Council in 2010. While he was running for the U.S. Congress, an anonymous group attempted to recall Swalwell from the city council, but the effort was later abandoned.

SWALWELL, Eric, a Representative from California; born in Sac City, Sac County, Iowa, November 16, 1980; graduated from Dublin High School, Dublin, Calif., 1999; B.A. University of Maryland, College Park, Md., 2003; J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Md., 2006; Alameda County, Calif., prosecutor; Alameda County, Calif., deputy district attorney, 2006-2012; member of the Dublin, Calif., town council, 2010-2012; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Thirteenth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2013-present); one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2021 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.