California Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell reportedly rents a single room in a home occupied by a family of three near Fresno — and one of his Democratic opponents says it’s just so the congressman can claim he lives in the Golden state.
The discovery came from Swalwell’s top Democratic opponent, billionaire Tom Steyer. Steyer says Swalwell appears to “live in California on paper only” as the governor race heats up, “making him unlikely to meet the basic residency requirements to run for Governor.”
In a letter from Ryan Hughes, Steyer’s attorney, he called on the Secretary of State Shirley Weber to “enforce a dormant residency requirement in the governor’s race” and encouraged Weber to “allow for robust legal proceedings as to whether Swalwell is eligible to serve as Governor,” preventing any future action by the Trump administration.
“If elected, questions of legitimacy would hang over Swalwell, allowing the Trump Administration to sow doubt, exploit the ambiguity, and advance its perverse agendas,” Hughes wrote in the letter. “The Trump Administration could question Swalwell’s legitimacy as Governor and, therefore, imperil California’s receipt of federal funds, the state’s ability to deploy the California National Guard, and act in emergencies.”
Hughes pointed out that Swalwell purchased a home in Washington D.C. which is listed on a 2022 deed of trust and that deed records did not indicate he has any ownership in the Livermore home.
In the letter, Steyer’s attorney claimed the Livermore address home is “owned by Nicolas and Kristina Mrzywka. Kristina Mrzywka (formerly Kristina Pinto) is the sister of Stephanie Sbranti (formerly Stephanie Pinto), who is married to Tim Sbranti. Swalwell’s former deputy chief of staff/district director(2015–2018) and a longtime mentor who helped introduce him to politics.”
In an interview, Sbranti said he suggested Swalwell rent a room in the Livermore home “as a way to maintain an affordable base in an expensive district, ” the Sacramento Bee reported.
In the letter, Hughes stated that at least since 2018 the Secretary of State’s office “has taken the legal position that the five-year residency requirement is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution.”
In response, a declaration was filed on March 6 by Swalwell’s attorneys from his landlord Mrzywka.
In it she states that “under penalty of perjury” that “I entered a lease agreement with Eric and Brittany Swalwell in June 2017 for a property that I own in Livermore, California. Mr. and Mrs. Swalwell has leased the property from me since June 2017.”
It also stated that “Mr. Swalwell pays rent pursuant to our lease agreement every month. He lives at the property when he is in the East Bay, and keeps significant belongings there. Mr. Swalwell receives mail at the property and is registered to vote at the address.”
Zillow describes the home as a “a three-bedroom, 1,350-square-foot house with a family of three,” the Bee reported.
Swalwell also submitted a declaration that he has been a California resident since 2006.
“From June 2017 to present, I have lived in Livermore, California. I am registered to vote in California. I have a California Driver’s License. I am a licensed attorney with the California State Bar, and my license has remained active since I was admitted to the Bar in 2006.7.8. I own a business (“non-manager”) in California. I have filed income tax returns in California since tax year 2006.”
California members of Congress have also shown their support to Swalwell and denounced what they called “baseless residency attacks.”
The California Post has reached out to both Swalwell and Steyer’s campaign and attorneys for further comment.
