Is Rep. Eric Swalwell trading his Capitol Hill duties for red carpet glitz? The California Democrat, who recently threw his hat into the gubernatorial ring, has been caught missing a staggering number of House votes while cozying up to Hollywood elites, as the New York Post reports.
Swalwell, representing parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, announced his bid for California governor in November during a late-night TV appearance, all while racking up absences in Congress and drawing scrutiny for his priorities.
In February, Swalwell skipped two days of votes to attend the Los Angeles premiere of HBO’s White Lotus, as evidenced by social media snaps. Apparently, mingling with stars was more pressing than casting ballots on behalf of his district.
Fast forward to the rest of the year's voting record, Swalwell missed 95 out of 342 House floor votes, per an analysis by the Post. That’s more than double the absences of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who stepped away for hip surgery and later announced her retirement. It’s also more than Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who tragically passed away in March.
Even on the day of his gubernatorial announcement, Swalwell skipped two House votes to chat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He hasn’t cast a single roll call vote since Nov. 18.
Then there’s his habit of sporting a hat promoting Jimmy Kimmel Live! While loyalty to a friend is admirable, shouldn’t that energy be directed toward showing up for the job taxpayers elected him to do? It’s a curious way to build trust with voters eyeing him for higher office.
Swalwell’s Hollywood campaign coffers are brimming with Tinseltown money. Donations include $15,000 from Sean Penn, $10,000 each from Robert De Niro, Jon Cryer, Kathy Griffin, and Alex Baskin.
Meanwhile, in October 2025, Swalwell took to social media, promising to hold the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency accountable after disturbing footage surfaced of masked officers confronting a woman in a parking lot.
Critics are taking notice of this pattern. “The question is, does he just not care about the job, or has he had it in his mind that he’s going to run for governor for a while and he’s getting his name out there across the state,” said David Latterman, a San Francisco-based political analyst.
Latterman didn’t hold back on the impact on Swalwell’s district. “If I were part of his constituency, I’d be pretty ticked off,” he added.
Adding to the optics problem, Swalwell and his team have stayed silent when pressed by the Post about these absences. Stonewalling on accountability doesn’t exactly scream “ready to lead.”
Compare this to former Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who missed 171 votes in 2025 while campaigning for governor -- a race she won, with her term starting in January 2026. Even with that high number, she secured victory. Will California voters be as forgiving when they head to the polls on November 3, 2026?
On top of the attendance issues, Swalwell faces a federal criminal referral over alleged mortgage and tax fraud. That’s a serious shadow hanging over a campaign already struggling to justify his focus. Voters deserve transparency, not a candidate dodging both votes and tough questions.
Swalwell’s gubernatorial ambitions might be a long shot if he can’t prove he’s committed to the job he already has.
Balancing Hollywood charm with legislative responsibility isn’t easy, but it’s non-negotiable for someone asking to lead a state. California deserves a governor who shows up -- literally and figuratively.
