Stephen Cloobeck Endorses Eric Swalwell for California Governor, Discusses 'Vote by Phone' Idea

Cloobeck's Gubernatorial Exit and Swalwell Endorsement

• 🤝 Stephen Cloobeck announced he is dropping out of the race for California Governor.
• 🎯 He is endorsing Rep. Eric Swalwell as the next Governor of California, citing Swalwell's integrity, character, and leadership qualities.
• 🐻 Cloobeck presented Swalwell with a golden bear pin as a symbol of his support and admiration.

Swalwell's Vision for California

• 💡 Swalwell expressed gratitude for Cloobeck's support and highlighted his business acumen and philanthropic work, including efforts to combat homelessness and support farmworkers.
• 🏘️ He plans to draw on Cloobeck's experience to focus on increasing housing, modernizing the state, and supporting small businesses.
• 🗣️ Cloobeck emphasized California's status as a diverse and exceptional place to live, believing Swalwell will restore its former prominence.

The 'Vote by Phone' Proposal and Reactions

• 📱 Swalwell reiterated his proposal to allow Californians to vote by phone, drawing parallels to online banking, healthcare appointments, and tax filings.
• 📢 This idea sparked significant negative reactions from prominent Republicans, including Donald Trump's team, Ron DeSantis, Chad Bianco, and Steve Hilton, who emphasized the importance of in-person voting with ID and paper ballots for election security.
• 🛡️ Critics raised concerns about voter fraud and the potential for hacking the system.

Swalwell's Defense of 'Vote by Phone'

• 💡 Swalwell argued that Californians are technologically savvy and use biometrics for sensitive financial and health information, suggesting phone voting could be secure.
• 🗳️ He proposed challenging technology to make democracy more accessible and mentioned virtualizing the DMV to reinvest proceeds into education.
• ✅ Swalwell stated that his proposal is not new, citing examples in West Virginia and mayoral races, and emphasized the existence of an auditable backup trail to ensure security.
• ⏳ He also vowed to address long voter wait times, ensuring that casting a ballot should not take longer than receiving a pizza.

Blockchain and Election Security

• 🔗 Swalwell suggested that blockchain technology, the basis of cryptocurrency, could be used to solidify voter ID and secure the voting process.
• 🔒 He noted that President Trump appears to be a believer in blockchain's security applications.