Rep. Eric Swalwell’s claims about residing in a rented California house have raised “pink flags” amongst members of the state Democratic Get together after a number of neighbors at his supposed house of 9 years have by no means seen or met him.
The Democrat frontrunner for Governor claims he’s lived since 2017 with one other household in a 1,350-square-foot Livermore house owned by the sister-in-law of his political mentor, Tim Sbranti.
However 5 neighbors did not determine Swalwell on Wednesday when The Publish confirmed them an image of the congressman and recognized him by identify.
“I’ve by no means seen him,” mentioned Gita Prusty, who famous she’s lived on Michell Court docket for 5 years.
Lauren Antony, 19, lives in a home two doorways down from Swalwell’s listed deal with, however she instructed The Publish she had “by no means seen” him after being proven his image.
When requested how lengthy she has lived on the road, she mentioned: “All of my life.”
Swalwell’s uncommon housing association in his East Bay district, in addition to frequent marketing campaign spending on luxurious motels in and round his district, have introduced the congressman’s claims to California residency below fireplace.
The house on Wednesday had trainers strewn throughout the doorstep, an upside-down container of cottage cheese was left within the yard, and pale patio chairs had been positioned close to the doorstep subsequent to a fireplace pit desk.
Behind a chain-linked fence, a German Shepherd barked.
State regulation requires a candidate for California governor to be a resident for 5 years instantly previous the election, and residency is mostly outlined as a set place the place an individual lives and intends to stay.
Swalwell is married with three youngsters and his household lives in a $1.2 million house in Washington, D.C., and he allegedly rents a room within the house on Michell Court docket as a spot to remain when again within the district.
Lee Fink, an Orange County lawyer who labored within the Obama administration and now serves as a delegate for the California Democratic Get together, instructed The Publish on Thursday that Swalwell’s residency points have change into “an enormous concern for us Democrats.”
“There’s pink flags far and wide — that his neighbors don’t know he’s there means that he’s not really there,” Fink mentioned.
“If the marketing campaign information present that he’s staying at a resort close by, it means he doesn’t have a everlasting place of dwelling in California. That’s essential.”
“That’s an enormous downside for the Democratic Get together, as a result of Swalwell is at or close to the highest of the polls.
“The very last thing any Democrat needs is a few right-winger like Steve Hilton or Chad Bianco to fall into the governor’s chair as a result of the main candidate is disqualified.”
“You’d suppose Swalwell would do much more to ease the doubts.”
Ryan Hughes, an lawyer for progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, known as on the Secretary of State’s workplace to launch an investigation into Swalwell’s residency claims, whereas Steve Hilton, a Republican former Fox Information host, on Thursday known as for Swalwell to be disqualified from the June election.
“Swalwell’s pretend residency disqualifies him from working for CA Governor!” Hilton’s marketing campaign tweeted Thursday.
“This fraud doesn’t even reside in California!”
Michelle Jeung, a marketing campaign advisor for the gubernatorial marketing campaign of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, instructed The Publish that anxiousness over Swalwell is ripping via the Democratic Get together.
“We maintain listening to considerations from Democrats that if Swalwell and Hilton make the highest two and the federal [Department of Justice] determines Eric Swalwell is a D.C. resident, then Swalwell’s disqualification would end in a Republican profitable the Governor’s race,” Jeong mentioned.
Swalwell, a former prosecutor who maintains a license with the State Bar, filed a sworn affidavit below penalty of perjury claiming that he has been a California resident since 2006 and has lived in Livermore since 2017.
Data present he lists his domicile as a house owned by Nicholas and Kristina Mrzywka, the latter of whom is reportedly the sister-in-law of Swalwell’s former political mentor, Tim Sbranti.
Krstina Mrzywka additionally filed a sworn affidavit claiming that Swalwell and his spouse Brittany entered right into a lease for the property in June 2017.
In his personal sworn affidavit, Swalwell didn’t state that he rents the property and his marketing campaign has refused to launch any documentation or financial institution statements relating to a lease.
As an alternative, Swalwell attacked Steyer and The Publish in a tweet Wednesday night, saying he and his household have had their lives threatened, which is why retains his deal with personal.
Swalwell has been below fireplace for his residency claims since January, when right-wing filmmaker Joel Gilbert filed a lawsuit claiming Swalwell was not a real resident of California.
A courtroom listening to in that case is scheduled for later this month.
California officers appear unlikely to research Swalwell’s residency points, with Lawyer Common Rob Bonta saying the regulation doesn’t require the Secretary of State to confirm the place a candidate really lives.
Marketing campaign information additionally present the congressman has spent a major quantity of money and time staying at motels in and round his congressional district.
In 2025, Swalwell made 19 completely different prices to his marketing campaign on the luxurious resort Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, in response to federal marketing campaign information. Swalwell’s frequent campaigning and rubbing elbows with celebrities led him to miss essentially the most votes of any energetic member of Congress by the tip of final 12 months.
In 2023 and 2024, Swalwell made 24 prices at motels in San Francisco, largely staying on the five-star 1 Lodge San Francisco on the Embarcadero in addition to the waterfront boutique inn Lodge Griffon.
Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Legislation College, instructed The Publish that the state structure requires 5 years of residency in California earlier than an election, and a domicile requires a candidate to have a bodily presence and intent to stay or return to the house.
A crowded subject on the left has created panic that two Republicans — Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — may very well be the highest two finalists to emerge from the June main.
Rusty Hicks, chair of the state Democratic Get together, printed an open letter earlier this month calling on low-polling candidates to drop out of the race.
If Swalwell and one of many GOP candidates advance to the runoff, lingering questions in regards to the congressman’s California residency might change into a wedge challenge for voters in November.
