November 7, 2012 | 10:27 AM | By

East Bay Institution Pete Stark Toppled by Novice Eric Swalwell

FILED UNDER: National, Races, 2012 General Election, Eric Swalwell, Pete Stark
Undated Stark campaign button shows unseated Congressman's history. (Mpls55408: Flickr)

Undated Stark campaign button shows defeated Congressman's history. (Mpls55408: Flickr)

Twenty-term incumbent Pete Stark lost his re-election bid to Alameda County prosecutor and Dublin city councilman Eric Swalwell — who won with 53 percent of the vote.

It had been a bitterly fought campaign, with sometimes strange allegations from Stark. As KQED’s Cy Musiker reported, “Stark accused Swalwell, without evidence, of taking bribes; he was forced to apologize; and he wrongly accused newspaper columnist Debra Saunders of making political donations to Swalwell, again apologizing after.”

Stark issued a statement this morning:

It has been my honor to serve the people of the East Bay for the last 40 years. I have worked hard to deliver results: accomplishments like writing the COBRA law to make health insurance portable between jobs, bringing the first computers to schools, and crafting President Obama’s groundbreaking health care law.

I went to Washington by running against an unpopular war and for women’s rights, opportunity for children and dignity for seniors. I leave knowing that the landscape has changed, but the needs of my constituents remain.

I congratulate Mr. Swalwell on his victory. I am happy to be of assistance in the future.

I want to thank all the wonderful people I met along this fabulous journey and I will remember them fondly. Together, we have made a real difference

  • Michael T Lyster

    Good riddance to Pete Stark. Arrogant, destructive self-absorbed weasel. If only he had to get treated for something unpleasant under the Affordable Care Act he helped to craft: now there, TRULY would be karma.
    Bye, Pete: don’t let the door hit you on the way out.