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A potentially explosive controversy has emerged in California’s race for governor, casting doubt on whether Rep. Eric Swalwell is even legally qualified to run. A new court filing alleges that despite positioning himself as a leading progressive contender, Swalwell may not actually meet the state’s residency requirements.
The claim comes from conservative filmmaker Joel Gilbert, who has filed legal action asserting that Swalwell does not truly live in California. According to Gilbert, public records fail to show a legitimate California residence for the congressman, instead listing an address tied to a lawyer’s office.
Gilbert alleges that Swalwell’s actual home is a $1.2 million, six-bedroom mansion in Washington, D.C., where he reportedly lives with his wife and three children. The filing claims the property was listed as the couple’s principal residence when they secured a mortgage in April 2022, raising questions about where Swalwell legally resides.
Under the California Constitution, gubernatorial candidates must have been residents of the state for five consecutive years immediately preceding the election. Gilbert argues that if Swalwell has been living primarily in Washington, D.C., he would be ineligible to run for governor under that requirement.
Gilbert summarized the dilemma bluntly, saying Swalwell cannot have it both ways. Either the congressman misrepresented his residency status in mortgage documents, potentially raising issues of mortgage fraud, or he does not meet California’s constitutional qualifications to run for governor.
Swalwell has dismissed the allegations, but critics argue the issue will not disappear easily. As commentators have noted, the dispute now extends beyond politics into legal territory, with questions not only about eligibility for office but also about the accuracy of sworn financial and residency records.[/read]