Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced on Thursday that he would not be running for reelection to his congressional seat in the 2020 election. Swalwell’s decision brings to a close his two terms in the House of Representatives.
“After much reflection and conversations over the past year, I have decided I will not seek reelection to Congress in 2020,” Swalwell tweeted Thursday. “Services as an elected leader is about facilitating big, bold, transformational change and I feel best equipped to do that by focusing all my energy on seeking the presidency.”
Swalwell’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination has largely failed to gain any significant traction. His poll numbers remain in the low single digits and he failed to qualify for the second round of debates this summer, as candidate numbers have risen to exceed the Democratic National Committee’s debate requirements.
Despite his inability to make a viable bid for the White House, Swalwell thanked his congressional constituents in California’s 15th district for supporting him in the past.
“It has been an honor representing California’s 15th Congressional District and leading the fight for gun safety and smarter budget priorities,” he tweeted. “I remain grateful for the trust they placed in me and – no matter the outcome of this presidential race – I am all in to help ensure they have strong leadership in Congress.”
