By Rachel Clair
University of Maryland alumnus Eric Swalwell officially announced his 2020 presidential run on Monday, April 8. During his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Swalwell, a father of two, stated that he intends to focus on gun control if elected.
Swalwell is currently serving his third congressional term in California’s fifteenth district, including the San Francisco area.
In his official campaign announcement, Swalwell showcases his roots, background and areas of interest. The slogan to look for is: “Go big. Be bold. Do good.”
“I’m the only candidate calling for a mandatory national ban and buyback of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. It’s bold and will cost money, but it is constitutional and it rightly treats gun violence as a life-or-death matter,” Swalwell said in an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Other key campaign interests Swalwell has cited include climate change, health care, foreign policy and the student loan crisis.
Swalwell earned his bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the university in 2003. He went on to attend the University of Maryland School of Law, from which he earned his juris doctor degree in 2006.
The two-time Terp transferred to UMD during his junior year. He previously played soccer at Campbell University in North Carolina before suffering a career-ending injury. In his short time at UMD, Swalwell was an active member of the SGA and created the position of student liaison, which is still in existence today. The student liaison works as a medium through which the student government and the city council communicate with one another and compromise on matters.
“The position has been critical for improving the relations between students and long-term residents in the community. The student liaison encourages student activism, notifying student groups to issues that have a meaningful impact on their lives, and that are currently being discussed at a city level,” current student liaison Alex Tobin said.
Tobin credits the accomplishments of this position to Swalwell, whom he has looked up to through his time on the Student Government and interning on Capitol hill.
“I have been following his potential run for some time and I am immensely proud of the legacy he has left here at College Park,” Tobin said.
Other students too harbor the solidarity and support for a fellow terp, and the pride and success his run symbolizes to the school.
“I’m so excited to see a Terp alum, one who I have looked up to for years, run for president. His unparalleled support for the LGBT community, outspoken opposition to gun violence and strong commitment to providing health care for U.S. citizens are just a few reasons why I believe he would make a great president,” sophomore government and politics and public policy double major Cat Magos said.