From the SGA to the White House?

Four-term U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of Northern California announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Monday night, making him the 18th official candidate. But he started exercising his political muscles here at the University of Maryland as a colorful member of the Student Government Association.

Back then, the government and politics major was protesting Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s planned cuts to higher education, even dressing as “Bahama Bob” to mock his vacationing while a funding bill was being debated in Annapolis.

Today, the 2003 graduate—who spoke on campus in December at the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences’ winter commencement ceremony—is directing fierce criticism at President Trump and plans to run on a platform of gun reform.

Watch Swalwell’s announcement here—and stick around for Colbert’s examples of campaign lawn signs for Swalwell.

And read our Terp magazine profile of the then-freshman congressman, with tales of how he cut his political teeth at Maryland in dramatic fashion.