Rep. Eric Swalwell kicks off presidential bid with rally in Dublin, California

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell officially kicked off his presidential bid Sunday at a rally in Dublin, California, where he grew up.

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Congressman Eric Swalwell is in Dublin for the first rally in his home district since announcing his candidacy for president https://t.co/jIiomE3eLh
— kcranews (@kcranews) April 14, 2019

Swalwell, 38, announced his candidacy last week on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after months of speculation and visits to New Hampshire, Iowa and other states.

The fourth-term congressman and former Dublin city councilman, who was first elected in California’s 15th District in 2012, said one of his top priorities as president would be to enact a ban on assault weapons. He also cited national security, economic justice and prisoner education as important issues he’ll focus on.

Eric Swalwell greets crowd at Dublin High School for 2020 campaign rally. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/MoprkhKGzO
— Elissa Harrington (@EHarringtonTV) April 14, 2019

Rep. Eric Swalwell holds hometown rally in Dublin to launch presidential run | ️ You can watch live now on https://t.co/CMLe1j68im https://t.co/vFcPkzJzWp pic.twitter.com/DLri5qqUSZ
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) April 14, 2019

Swalwell is jumping into a crowded Democratic field with better-known and better-funded candidates who have been campaigning for months now.

Swalwell, a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, was born in Sac City, Iowa, in 1980, but grew up in Dublin, where he graduated from Dublin High School. He married Brittany Watts in 2016, and the couple has two young children.