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Democratic Billionaire Tom Steyer Launches Scathing Ad Against Rep. Swalwell Over Missed Congressional Votes
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer has unleashed what political commentators are calling a “savage” campaign advertisement against fellow California Democrat Eric Swalwell, using the congressman’s own social media videos to criticize his congressional attendance record.
The advertisement, released on Steyer’s social media platforms, compiles clips of Swalwell repeatedly saying “I should be working” from videos he originally posted during a 2025 government shutdown. The videos show Swalwell in various leisure settings including swimming in a pool and lifting weights at the gym.
“Eric Swalwell’s job is to vote in Congress,” the ad states before delivering a striking comparison: “In 2025, Eric Swalwell missed 95 votes. That’s more than Rep. Raul Grijalva missed. Rep. Grijalva died in March 2025.”
According to data from GovTrack.US, Swalwell’s absence record is even more substantial than the advertisement claims. The tracking service reports that the congressman missed 102 out of 139 roll call votes—approximately 73 percent—between September 19, 2025, and February 9, 2026. Swalwell announced his candidacy for California governor in late November, seeking to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.
Steyer’s campaign alleges that since declaring his gubernatorial bid, Swalwell has missed 68 percent of congressional votes. The advertisement concludes with the pointed critique: “He hasn’t been showing up to work, and now he’s asking for a promotion.”
The advertisement has generated significant commentary across political media. Democratic commentator Kaivan Shroff described it as “savage” on social platform X, while senior Huffington Post editor Kevin Robillard suggested it signals that “Dem primaries this cycle are going to be nastier than they’ve been in a while.” Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine simply called it a “brutal ad.”
Swalwell’s original videos were created last summer as criticism of congressional Republicans. In one particularly notable clip filmed while lounging in a pool, he claimed: “I should be working right now. I should be in Congress. I should be voting to lower your costs. But, instead, I’m in a pool because Republicans sent everyone home because they don’t want to release the Epstein files.”
The irony of these videos being repurposed against him underscores the potential vulnerabilities in Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley highlighted this contradiction last summer, noting that “Swalwell has, however, kept constituents informed of his workouts even if he is not actually working.”
The controversy over Swalwell’s congressional attendance comes at a critical time in California politics. With Governor Newsom leaving office, the race to replace him has attracted several high-profile Democrats, including Steyer, who previously ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020.
Political analysts suggest this early negative advertising between Democratic candidates indicates a potentially contentious primary season ahead. Steyer, a billionaire with significant personal resources to fund his campaign, appears ready to highlight what he perceives as Swalwell’s record of absenteeism as a central criticism.
Swalwell’s team did not respond to requests for comment regarding his voting record or the criticisms raised in Steyer’s advertisement.
The California gubernatorial race is expected to attract national attention as Democrats compete to lead the nation’s most populous state and manage its significant economic and environmental challenges in the coming years.
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11 Comments
If the reporting is accurate, this is quite concerning. Elected representatives have a responsibility to be present and engaged in the legislative process, not absent for such a substantial portion of their duties.
This seems like a concerning situation. If the attendance record is accurate, it raises questions about Rep. Swalwell’s commitment to his constituents and responsibilities. I hope there is a reasonable explanation, but voters deserve representatives who prioritize their duties.
I agree, elected officials need to be accountable. Voters should carefully consider a candidate’s track record when making their choices.
This is the type of issue that should be carefully examined by nonpartisan fact-checkers and investigative journalists. Voters need access to the full context to make an informed decision.
While social media can provide insight, it’s important to look at a politician’s overall record and performance. I encourage voters to dig deeper beyond the surface-level narratives.
The contrast between Swalwell’s social media posts and his missed votes is quite striking. Transparency around attendance and voting records is important for maintaining public trust in our representatives.
Absolutely. Voters should demand that their elected officials fulfill the basic duties of the office, regardless of party affiliation.
The comparison to a deceased colleague is a bold move by Steyer’s campaign. It remains to be seen whether voters will view Swalwell’s absences as a serious dereliction of duty or if there are mitigating factors at play.
This highlights the need for rigorous oversight and fact-checking when it comes to the performance of our elected officials. I hope the full context and reasoning behind the missed votes is brought to light.
Valid point. It’s crucial that we have a well-informed electorate that can make decisions based on a candidate’s full record, not just their social media presence.
Missed votes are a serious matter, and I hope Swalwell is able to provide a satisfactory explanation. Constituents deserve representatives who are fully committed to their roles.