Dublin High School Alumni Eric Swalwell Defeats 40-Year Congressman Pete Stark

Once long-shot candidate Eric Swalwell, a City of Dublin Councilman and Alameda County Prosecutor, staged a major upset Tuesday night by defeating 40-year incumbent Congressman Pete Stark to secure the newly drawn 15th Congressional District. Eric Swalwell, endorsed by OneDublin.org earlier this year, benefited from strong volunteer support despite a fundraising deficit. The campaign also benefited from a series of Pete Stark gaffes including bribery claims that Stark had to apologize for as unfounded. Stark cited a local Dublin blogger as one of the sources for the controversial claims.

At the election night event, Swalwell was introduced by former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher as the likelihood of Swalwell’s win was emerging. There were two updates, however, before Swalwell claimed victory late in the evening, with the final margin announced early Wednesday morning with 52.23% for Swalwell and 47.77% for Stark with all precincts reporting.

Swalwell will travel to Washington in January to be sworn into the next Congress, and in doing so will become the first Dublin High School graduate to serve in Congress. After graduating from Dublin High School, Eric ultimately earned a Law Degree from the University of Maryland.

Eric Swalwell’s speech on election night thanking supporters and announcing the win:

Related articles:

• More photos from Election Night 2012 at the Swalwell for Congress Campaign Event
• Eric Swalwell’s Work Ethic and Character: Right for the 15th Congressional District
• Eric Swalwell Jr. – Dublin High Class of ’99 Alumni and Alameda County Prosecutor