Rep. Eric Swallwell backs recall of Alameda County DA Pamela Price
With one month until the election, Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Wednesday he is supporting the recall of embattled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price.
The Democratic congressman, whose district covers much of the county, talked about his support of the recall at a news conference in Hayward Wednesday afternoon with campaign supporters.
"The District Attorney of the county is the highest law-enforcement officer in the county, but Pam Price doesn't act that way," Swalwell said Wednesday.
Alongside Swallwell were family members of crime victims, including the security guard shot at the Pleasanton Home Depot last year.
"Victim's families deserve a DA that will rally with them support them and charge prope," Laurie Mohs said.
In a statement announcing his recall support, Swalwell said that Price had "failed the victims of violent crime, and their families."
"Public safety is the paramount concern of Alameda County residents. Yet, under Price, the cops catch the criminals and Price puts them back into our community to re-offend," he said.
Following Swalwell's announcement, Price's campaign released a statement saying his support of the recall runs counter to the Alameda County Democratic Party, which has opposed removing the district attorney.
"His support for an effort that undermines a fellow Democrat and rejects the position of local Democrats has left many of his constituents feeling betrayed. Some are questioning whether Swalwell is out of touch with the very people he claims to represent," Price's campaign said.
The district attorney said she reached out to the congressman in August and invited him to meet with her and her executive leadership team, but he did not respond.
Price's campaign also noted that Swalwell backed her opponent Terry Wiley in the 2022 election, calling him a major donor to his campaign.
Elected in 2022 on a progressive platform, critics of the district attorney gathered more than 74,000 valid signatures to force a recall election, citing her handling of several high-profile cases and increasing crime.
The district attorney has fired back, saying the campaign is being funded by what she called wealthy out-of-town real estate and corporate interests.