Forty-three million Americans owe a collective $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt. About $85,400 of that belongs to Eric Swalwell.
His debt has followed him from law school to the Alameda County district attorney's office and the Dublin City Council. It was looming in the background a decade ago when he ran for Congress at 31, defeating a 20-term incumbent to represent a Bay Area district, and it was at the forefront of his brief presidential campaign in 2019, when he made it clear he'd be paying off the loans in the White House if he won.
But when President Joe Biden announced his plan last week to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt, Swalwell's response echoed that of many borrowers who would trade forgiveness for a fighting chance at paying back what they owe: That's great, but what about the interest?
