The Case of the Missing California Congressman

California Rep. Eric Swalwell has been hot on the campaign trail for California Governor in his signature fleece vest, which was also spotted on him in the halls of Congress in a Fetterman-esque fit, but the casual congressman hasn’t been in congress since November 18 casting votes.

Rep. Swalwell has missed a reported 16 votes since Tuesday, November 18 through Tuesday, December 2.

On November 18, Swalwell skipped out on four bills. The following day, no-show Swalwell missed five bills. Rounding out the week, “Not Voting” appears for two bills on the 20th and one on the 21st. Stepping into December, Rep, Swallwell continues to step out…of voting.

Eric Swalwell is making a heroic end-of-year push to try to overtake the late Raul Grijalva for votes missed this year, racking up an impressive uninterrupted 16-missed votes streak since November 18th. https://t.co/iPLManjvL4 pic.twitter.com/PMinmFtDEC

— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) December 2, 2025

During the “Epstein Shut Down”–a narrative that fell fast because it didn’t have any legs– Swalwell late-launched his campaign for Governor of California promising to “Fight for A New California,” which is an odd slogan for a state that has been under Democratic single-party control for decades. What’s new? You won’t find it on his campaign website.

For a gubernatorial candidate who wants to run and oversee the “fourth largest economy in the world,” his website doesn’t list one, let alone, any policy positions that he would usher in a “New California.” Not a single one.

Looking through his site, I have learned about his childhood, his siblings, his family, and that he “proudly served” as a “gym towel boy” who has now graduated to “the fiercest face of the Democratic resistance.”

Although proclaiming to be a “tested leader meeting the moment,” he hasn’t been meeting for a moment in the halls of Congress to vote, but he did appear on MSNBC with Al Sharpton on November 29th.

In that specific MSNBC appearance with the “Reverend,” Swalwell was NOT wearing his vest, unlike his prior MSNBC appearance:

The vested congressman spotted on CNN:

And on Legal AF:

And in Altadena (what is left of it) in front of local news media:

Congressman Swalwell is often appearing in his trusted vest on TV and on social media. That is readily apparent, as is his lack of specific, outlined policies while fighting for a New California. What is also apparent is that he isn’t fighting for California since November 18 by “not voting” sixteen times.

As recently as yesterday, he lobbed social media insults to members of the Trump administration, so we won’t send out an APB or file a missing persons report, yet. But, another vest, or no vest, for his next media tour would be welcomed, and so would some policies in his fight for a new California.