In front of a packed house, Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, touched on a wide range of issues, from gun violence to student loan debt, during a town hall meeting in Columbus.
About 250 people, including 10 members of the advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, attended the event Sunday at Factory 12 Event Loft, 1235 Jackson St.
Swalwell, 38, who is married to Columbus native Brittany Watts Swalwell, spoke for about 30 minutes, mainly focusing on gun violence, health care and student loan debt, and then took questions from the audience.
During the town hall, Swalwell said he would like to institute universal background checks on every firearm purchase in the United States, and “ban and buy back the 15 million assault rifles” that he said should only be in the hands of law enforcement and military professionals.
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Swalwell also said he is in support of government-funded health care.
“My plan … is Medicare for anyone who wants it,” Swalwell said. “If you’re sick, you’re seen (by a doctor). If you’re seen, you don’t go broke, regardless of your income, regardless of your employer, regardless of your luck. A public option where the government has the responsibility to make sure that we protect people with pre-existing conditions, to put pressure on the private insurers to bring down the costs.”
On student debt, Swalwell said if he is elected president, he would lower federal student loan interest rates to 0 percent and would allow students recover interest they had previously paid to the federal government. Additionally, he said he would institute what he called a “college bargain.”
The bargain, he said, would essentially allow students at public universities who complete a work-study program throughout their entire academic program, and then commit to community service after graduation, would receive “debt-free education.”
“If you work for college in America, college should work for you,” he said.
The crowd at the town hall was energetic and asked questions about student debt, gun violence, global warming and the national debt, among other topics. The turnout was indicative of how “engaged” local Democrats are, said Bob Hyatt, chair of the Bartholomew County Democratic Party.
“The local Democrats are really engaged in the electing people and making a difference,” Hyatt said.
Sue Gerber, 70, a member of the Bartholomew County Democratic Party who volunteered at the event, said she thought Swalwell was “very impressive.”
“It’s not everyday that you get to presidential candidate in Columbus,” she said. “I wanted to hear what he had to say.”
Jennifer Haan, state chapter co-lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she attended the town hall, along with nine other members of the advocacy group, because gun violence is Swalwell’s “No. 1 issue.”
“I love a lot of his ideas,” Haan said. “As a activist with Moms Demand Action, we want to see people leading the country who take a common-sense approach. It is possible to be pro-2nd Amendment and also support common-sense gun legislation, and I think that Rep. Swalwell definitely understands that.”
On April 8, Swalwell announced that he was running for president during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” joining a crowded Democratic presidential field with at least 23 candidates who have officially launched campaigns.
Currently, Swalwell is not polling very high among Democratic presidential candidates.
As of May 5, 33 percent of likely Democratic primary voters in Indiana said they would vote for former Vice President Joe Biden, followed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders with 23 percent, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 20 percent, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris with 3 percent and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 2 percent, according to a poll by We Ask America, a survey research and data science firm. Nearly 15 percent of likely voters, however, said they are undecided at this point. Swalwell was not an answer choice in the poll.
The Democratic primary season kicks off on Feb. 3 with the Iowa caucus, followed by the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 11 and the Nevada primary on Feb. 22. Indiana’s Democratic primary will be held on May 5, 2020.
In 2016, Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton in the Indiana Democratic primary. Sanders received 52.5 percent of the vote against Clinton, who received 47.5 percent.
Swalwell is a fourth-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives who serves on the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees and co-chairs the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is a fourth-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 8, he announced that he was running for president during an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
Swalwell is married to Columbus native Brittany Watts Swalwell.
Visit ericswalwell.com for more information about Swalwell and his presidential campaign.
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