CALIFORNIA — Tom Steyer's campaign sent a letter to California's chief elections officer stating that Swalwell lived in California "on paper" and requesting an investigation into his eligibility to serve as governor. The California primary election for governor is scheduled for June 2026.

In the 2026 California gubernatorial race, Eric Swalwell has been the target of negative attacks by multiple leading rivals. Tom Steyer's campaign questioned Swalwell's residency status in California and posted a digital advertisement mocking Swalwell for missing congressional votes by depicting him taking dunks in a pool during House voting sessions. Some of Swalwell's competitors have alleged that he does not live in California.

Steve Hilton, a former television host and leading Republican candidate for California governor, said that Swalwell should be disqualified from the gubernatorial race because of questions about his residency. The California Constitution requires candidates for governor to have five years of residency in the state.

Neighbors at Swalwell's listed San Francisco Bay Area residence said they had never seen him. However, Swalwell's landlord filed legal papers with the California Secretary of State in 2017 stating that Swalwell and his wife have rented the property since 2017 and that he lives at the property. Eric Swalwell maintains dual residences, one in California and one in Washington, D.C.

Some of Swalwell's competitors have alleged that he holds a no-show job in Congress. Some of Swalwell's competitors have alleged that he is a sympathizer of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Swalwell campaign disputed allegations regarding his attendance record in Congress, residency, and stance on ICE. "If there's someone that Rep. Swalwell has gone after more than Trump, it's ICE," said Micah Beasley, a campaign spokesperson. The Swalwell campaign said that the video used in the Tom Steyer post was produced by Swalwell during the 2025 government shutdown.

Tom Steyer is a billionaire hedge fund manager turned liberal activist and is among the leading Democratic candidates for California governor. Eric Swalwell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and represents a district located east of San Francisco. Eric Swalwell served as a House manager during former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in early 2021.

The California Federation of Labor Unions endorsed four Democratic candidates—Eric Swalwell, Tom Steyer, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Katie Porter—for the gubernatorial primary. U.S. Senator Adam Schiff endorsed Eric Swalwell's campaign for governor. Service Employees International Union California endorsed Eric Swalwell's campaign for governor. Mail-in voting for the California gubernatorial primary is scheduled to begin in early May 2026.