Rep. Eric Swalwell has now reportedly been spending far more time off Capitol Hill than on it as he prepares a run for governor of California, according to new reports highlighting his record-breaking absences from congressional votes.
An analysis published this week by both The Sacramento Bee and the New York Post found that Swalwell has missed more roll call votes in 2025 than any other active member of the House of Representatives. Data from GovTrack shows that while most lawmakers miss roughly 3% of votes, Swalwell’s absence rate stands at 7.7% since he joined Congress. This year alone, he has skipped 95 out of 342 roll call votes.
While the lengthy government shutdown reduced the number of days Congress was in session during the second half of the year, the reports noted that Swalwell’s absentee rate still far exceeds that of his colleagues. In fact, the New York Post pointed out that Swalwell has missed more votes than late Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, who died in March.
The Post also highlighted what it described as Swalwell’s active social schedule during his time away from Washington. The outlet noted that Swalwell missed two House votes on the same day he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 20. He has not cast a single vote since the day before that appearance. It was during the Kimmel interview that Swalwell publicly announced his intention to run for governor.
During his absence, Swalwell skipped votes on major legislation, including the National Defense Authorization Act and a bill to overturn an executive order that stripped federal workers of collective bargaining rights.
Speaking to Kimmel, Swalwell framed his gubernatorial bid as a continuation of his political career. “I’ve been in these fights as a city council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland, and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the U.S. Congress,” Swalwell said. “But I’m ready to bring this fight home.”
The seven-term congressman said his focus as governor would be on lowering costs and raising wages for Californians. He pointed to California’s economic scale, noting it has the fourth-largest economy in the world, but questioned what that means if residents cannot afford to live there.
Swalwell’s absences come as he also faces allegations of wrongdoing. Last month, Trump administration housing official Bill Pulte referred Swalwell to the Justice Department for a potential federal criminal investigation, alleging mortgage fraud and tax fraud. Pulte has made similar referrals involving other Democrats in the past, none of which have resulted in charges.
Still, critics argue that Swalwell’s voting record raises questions about his commitment to his current role. With his gubernatorial ambitions now public and his presence in Congress dwindling, the reports suggest the California Democrat may already be campaigning for his next job — while leaving his constituents underrepresented in Washington.
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