Key keywords: Eric Swalwell, Donald Trump, 2026 California Gubernatorial Race, Old FBI Files, Election Interference, California State Election, Political Weaponization of Law Enforcement Records, Gubernatorial Campaign On Tuesday, California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell publicly accused former President Donald Trump of orchestrating the leak of decades-old, closed FBI case files to derail Democratic candidates in the upcoming 2026 California governor’s race, a high-stakes contest that could shift the balance of national political power given California’s status as the most populous U.S. state and holder of the largest number of Electoral College votes. Swalwell, speaking during a press conference in Oakland, noted that the leaked files, which date back to the 1990s and early 2000s, involve unsubstantiated claims against three top potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates, all of whom have been leading early polling for the race to replace term-limited incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom. None of the investigations referenced in the files resulted in criminal charges, and all were formally closed by the FBI more than 15 years ago with no findings of wrongdoing. Swalwell alleged that Trump and his allied political action committees obtained the files through informal connections to former federal law enforcement officials loyal to the former president, and intentionally timed the leak to local right-wing media outlets to weaken Democratic support months before primary candidate filing deadlines open. The congressman added that the move is part of a broader Republican strategy to flip the California governor’s seat for the first time since 2003, a win that would give the GOP significant leverage over policy ranging from immigration to climate regulation, as well as a major boost ahead of the 2028 presidential election. A spokesperson for Trump’s Save America PAC dismissed the accusations as “baseless partisan fearmongering” in a statement released Wednesday, noting that all of the leaked files are available to the public via Freedom of Information Act requests, and that the PAC is simply “informing California voters of the full background of candidates who want to run their state.” The California Secretary of State’s office confirmed that it has launched a formal inquiry into the leak to determine if it violates state election laws regarding the illegal disclosure of confidential law enforcement records to influence an election, while the FBI has also opened a separate probe into whether any current or former bureau employees violated non-disclosure rules by sharing the closed case files with political operatives. Political analysts note that the California governor’s race is already one of the most expensive expected contests in 2026, with both parties projected to spend more than $300 million combined on campaigning ahead of the general election.