Swalwell governor bid hit with residency questions after court filing alleges he doesn’t live in California

By Fox News · Fox News

Longtime political foe of President Donald Trump Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing a legal campaign challenge after a conservative activist filed a petition claiming the lawmaker is allegedly prohibited from running for California governor because he doesn't actually live in the Golden State. "Public records searches reveal no current ownership or leasehold interest held by Eric Swalwell in California, nor any history of any ownership of leasehold interest based on available public records," a petition filed Jan. 8 by filmmaker and activist Joel Gilbert states, the New York Post reported . "Swalwell’s congressional financial disclosers from 2011 to 2024 list no California real estate ownership," the petition added. The left-wing lawmaker's gubernatorial campaign, however, has hit back at the petition as a "nonsense claim" that the team looks forward to "beating" in court. SWALWELL CAMPAIGN IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER ACCEPTING ALMOST $15K FROM CCP-TIED LAW FIRM: 'STOP PLAYING FOOTSIE' Swalwell has served as a California congressman since 2013, and announced his candidacy to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom when his second term ends in January 2027. The gubernatorial race already is crowded with at least 10 candidates slated to be on the ballot in the nonpartisan primary in June. Swalwell is viewed as a front-runner as the race gets underway. The court filing claims that the congressman listed the address for the office of his attorney on campaign filings and not a residential California address. The address listed in the court filing shows an office building in downtown Sacramento. State law requires the California governor be a resident of the state five years prior to his or her election. "The governor shall be an elector who has been a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state for 5 years immediately preceding the governor’s election," the filing states, outlining the California Constitution's residential requirements of governors.…