Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who is seeking to become California’s next governor, is now reportedly facing renewed scrutiny after The Daily Mail revealed that he wrote what the outlet described as “unsettling” erotic poetry while in college.
According to the report, Swalwell penned the verses in 2001 as a 19-year-old student at Campbell University, a private liberal arts college in North Carolina. The poem, titled “Hungover From Burgundy,” was published in the school’s literary magazine and describes an intense encounter between two lovers during a hotel rendezvous.
The Daily Mail reported Monday that the poem depicts two partners “kissing and biting” until their veins “imploded and exploded” during what the outlet characterized as a “kinky hotel hookup.” The verses describe a scene involving a “flurry of limbs and nails,” with the narrator appearing to relish being bitten.
The poem was provided to The Mail by conservative filmmaker Joel Gilbert, who has acknowledged that he is actively working against Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign.
In the poem, Swalwell writes of a couple meeting atop a hotel before engaging in what he describes as “formless and magnificent” intimacy. The narrator references being bitten on the arm, calling the resulting scar “beautiful,” and portrays the encounter in dramatic and graphic imagery. The poem concludes with the narrator waking the next morning beside his partner, reflecting on the previous night’s events.
Swalwell responded to the report with a lighthearted remark on social media, writing, “You think my poetry at 19 was bad? Wait til you see my 12-yr old diary.”
The resurfacing of the poem comes as Swalwell enters an already crowded race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. The seven-term congressman joined the gubernatorial field in November.
According to CalMatters, at least six other high-profile Democrats are vying for the office, including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the Republican side, prominent challengers include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton.
Swalwell, who has built a national profile during his time in Congress, now faces questions about whether his past writings could become an issue on the campaign trail. The poem’s reemergence highlights the intense scrutiny candidates can face in statewide races, particularly in a state as politically significant as California.
While Swalwell brushed off the controversy with humor, political observers note that opponents may seek to use the material to question his judgment or temperament as he campaigns for one of the most powerful governorships in the country.
As the race unfolds, California voters will likely hear more from both supporters and critics as candidates’ past records — and writings — come under the microscope.
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