(CNN) California Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Monday he is dropping out of the 2020 race for president, concluding a short-lived bid for the Democratic nomination that failed to gain any traction.

"Today ends our presidential campaign, but it is the beginning of an opportunity in Congress, with a new perspective shaped by the lives that have touched mine and our campaign throughout these last three months, to bring that promise of America to all Americans," Swalwell said, speaking at his campaign headquarters in California.

"To believe that it will be the next generation whose leadership will solve climate chaos, bring cures in our lifetime for health care, address the student loan debt crisis and make sure that we say enough is enough, we don't have to live this way anymore and that we love our children more than we love our guns," he said.

He continued: "I'm fired up to do that work that I've already been doing in the Congress."

Former presidential candidate Eric Swalwell US Rep. Eric Swalwell attends a committee meeting in May 2017. He has been in Congress since 2013. A baby Swalwell with his parents, Eric and Vicky. When Swalwell was born in 1980, his father was the police chief in Algona, Iowa. Swalwell with his mother, Vicky. In 2017, Swalwell posted this old photo of him and his mom. "Big #happymothersday2017 to my Mom, Vicky, who still cares for me like she's holding me for the first time," Swalwell said on Twitter. Swalwell's high school yearbook photo. He attended Dublin High School in Dublin, California, before getting degrees from the University of Maryland and the University of Maryland School of Law. Swalwell was an intern for US Rep. Ellen Tauscher in 2001 and 2002. Swalwell meets former US Rep. John Anderson in 2001. "John was a moderate Republican who exemplified statesmanship and collaboration," Swalwell tweeted. "I was lucky to meet him in 2001 while interning on the Hill." In 2003, Swalwell and other students from the University of Maryland protest state budget cuts to higher education. Swalwell's beach attire was a reference to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who was on vacation at the time. Swalwell was on the Dublin Planning Commission from 2008-2010. Prior to that, he was a deputy district attorney in California's Alameda County. Swalwell served one term on the Dublin City Council. Swalwell and his father campaign for the US House in 2012. Swalwell went on to defeat Pete Stark, a 40-year incumbent. Swalwell winces after drawing No. 61 during the lottery for Capitol Hill offices in November 2012. Swalwell warms up before playing in a charity soccer match in April 2014. Swalwell played soccer for a couple of years in college. Swalwell and other members of Congress talk with young entrepreneurs at an event in New York in April 2015. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer react at a Swalwell joke during a Capitol Hill news conference in March 2017. Swallwell and his son, Nelson, attend the Congressional Baseball Game in June 2018. Swalwell has two children with his wife, Brittany. Swalwell and other Democratic leaders pose for a photo inside the US Capitol in November 2018. Swalwell sleeps with his young daughter, Kathryn. Swalwell speaks in Sunrise, Florida, during a town hall on gun violence in April 2019. Swalwell with his wife, Brittany, and their two children, Nelson and Kathryn. Swalwell takes part in a CNN town-hall event in June 2019. "I'm running for president to stop the shootings," he told the crowd. Swalwell discussed his frustration with lawmakers' inaction. "When I went to Congress, Sandy Hook happened. And there was nothing. Then Charleston: Nothing. San Bernardino: Nothing," he said, before ticking off one mass shooting after another. Swalwell participates in the first Democratic debates in June 2019. The high point of his campaign was likely his direct and blunt challenge to former Vice President Joe Biden during the debates. He noted that he was 6 years old when Biden came to the California Democratic convention and said "it's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans." Swalwell said Biden "was right when he said that 32 years ago. He is still right today."

Swalwell's exit from the 2020 race will make him the first candidate to drop out since the campaign began in earnest.

He announced his long shot presidential bid in April, pledging to mount a campaign that focused on the need for generational change in the Democratic Party and his commitment to confronting gun violence in the United States.

Swalwell, though, failed to gain traction in a crowded Democratic field and only qualified for the first set of Democratic debates because of the Democratic National Committee's 1% poll standard, not because of grassroots support.

Swalwell told CNN's Erin Burnett on Monday that he was "running to win and make a difference," and didn't have an honest shot at victory in a field of over 20 candidates.

"If we didn't see a path to winning, there was no other reason to stay in," he said. "I want to narrow this field and let others have their shot so that we can get a nominee that can beat Donald Trump."

Swalwell recently canceled a two-day trip to New Hampshire on July 3 and 4, in the first signal that his campaign might be coming to an end.

The high point of his campaign was likely his direct and blunt challenge to former Vice President Joe Biden, the race's frontrunner, during the late June debates, where the California Democrat noted that he was six years old when "a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said it's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans."

"That candidate was then-Sen. Joe Biden," Swalwell added as the crowd gasped. "He was right when he said that 32 years ago. He is still right today."

Biden shot back: "I'm holding onto that torch. I want to make it clear."

But that was not enough to sustain Swalwell's campaign, which struggled to gain attention in the Democratic field despite the candidate's availability to media.

Swalwell, throughout his campaign, urged Democrats to "go big and be bold." He proposed a gun buyback program to get certain weapons off America streets and said he would fund a study on gun violence.

Standing outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Virginia in June, Swalwell said, "We're not just here to stand up to the NRA ... we're here to beat the NRA."

While Swalwell would not formally endorse any one Democrat on Monday, he told Burnett that his support will hinge on the candidates' work to combat gun violence.

"I'm going to take some time, I'm going to be looking at who will elevate the issue of gun violence as their top issue, and to promise Americans that we don't have to live this way," he said.

Swalwell said his greatest challenge on the campaign trail was differentiating himself from other members of the crowded Democratic field.

His campaign, at times, was defined by awkward moments, like when he looked to deliver a clever line at the June Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame celebration.

"I will be bold without the bull," the congressman said to a quiet audience.