Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is considering a bid for governor of California and is expected to make a decision within the coming weeks, according to a source familiar with his plans.

The 44-year-old Swalwell was first elected to Congress in 2012, defeating longtime Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.). Swalwell has made a name for himself by being a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. He was a manager for the second Trump impeachment trial in 2021.

A Trump administration official, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, has referred a case to the Justice Department accusing Swalwell of mortgage fraud. Swalwell has called the charges baseless, chalking up the move as a result of his opposition to Trump.

Swalwell also clashed frequently with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a close Trump ally. McCarthy blocked Swalwell from serving on the Intelligence Committee over allegations that an alleged Chinese spy tried to target him. Swalwell denied any wrongdoing, and an investigation into the case didn’t turn up any wrongdoing by the California Democrat.

Swalwell — a seven-term House member — declined to comment on whether he’ll run for governor of the Golden State.

But a recent survey conducted by an outside group supporting the congressman showed Swalwell in fourth place. He polled better than candidates who have been in the race for months.

Republican Steve Hilton, a British-American Fox News contributor, took first place with 20%, followed by former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) with 16% and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, with 14%. Swalwell is next with 11% of the vote.

Also in the race: Former House member and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In the survey, they polled at 9% and 5%, respectively.

The survey of 1,000 likely primary voters was conducted in late October by EMC Research.

The poll also asked what voters are looking for in a nominee. 77% said someone who will “stand up to Trump and Republicans to protect democratic values.” Sixty-five percent said they wanted a current elected official. A little over half, 54%, said a progressive Democrat. Fifty-four percent also said they wanted a woman, which cuts against Swalwell.

Sixty-two percent of registered Democratic voters have a favorable view of Swalwell. Sixty-four percent have a favorable view of Porter and 68% have a favorable view of Becerra.

The Democratic field for California’s governorship has been messy, to put it lightly. Porter, fresh off a failed Senate bid in 2024, is the highest-polling Democrat. But Porter has deep vulnerabilities, as evidenced by the recent video showing her yelling at a staffer during a 2021 interview.

Two billionaire self-funders could also shake up the field: Democratic megadonor Tom Steyer and developer Rick Caruso. Both are considering runs.

As usual, California’s jungle primary makes this race complicated. A splintered Democratic field is a big liability if it opens up a path for Hilton and Bianco to claim the top two slots.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) took himself out of contention last week.

Swalwell represents a swath of the East Bay southeast of Oakland. He has been a reliable progressive in Congress and is a close ally of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Swalwell is a strong fundraiser and has a high nationwide name ID. The EMC Research survey showed his name ID in California was at 74%.