Fremont lawyer enters race to replace Swalwell

Rakhi Israni has $1 million war chest to challenge 5 other candidates for East Bay congressional seat

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A Fremont lawyer named Rakhi Israni is challenging five other candidates in the race to fill U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell's open East Bay congressional seat. Israni has a million-dollar war chest and says her goal is to get more people involved in the political process, as people want fresh thinking in the region.

Why it matters

The race to replace longtime Rep. Eric Swalwell in California's 15th Congressional District is heating up, with several candidates vying for the open seat. Israni's large campaign war chest and stated goal of bringing in new voices could shake up the dynamics of the race.

The details

Rakhi Israni, a Fremont-based lawyer, has entered the race to fill the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Eric Swalwell. Israni is one of six candidates challenging for the seat, and she has amassed a $1 million war chest to fund her campaign. Israni says her goal is to get more people involved in the political process, as she believes people in the region want fresh thinking.

  • Rakhi Israni announced her candidacy on January 28, 2026.

The players

Rakhi Israni

A Fremont-based lawyer who has entered the race to fill the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Eric Swalwell. Israni has a $1 million campaign war chest.

Eric Swalwell

The current U.S. Representative for California's 15th Congressional District, who is not seeking re-election.

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What they’re saying

“My goal is to get more people involved in the process. People want fresh thinking in the region.”

— Rakhi Israni, Candidate for Congress

The takeaway

Israni's large campaign war chest and stated goal of bringing in new voices could shake up the dynamics of the race to replace longtime Rep. Eric Swalwell in California's 15th Congressional District.