Eric Swalwell rose to national prominence as one of the youngest members of Congress when first elected in 2012, defeating a longtime incumbent in a primary upset. He gained significant attention as a vocal critic of Donald Trump and served as an impeachment manager during Trump's second Senate trial, leveraging his background as a former prosecutor to make the case for conviction. Swalwell has positioned himself as a progressive voice on gun violence prevention, climate action, and technology policy, while his tenure on the House Intelligence Committee made him a frequent television commentator on national security issues. His presidential campaign in 2019, though brief, centered on making gun violence prevention a top national priority.