Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE praised Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.) on Monday after the lawmaker announced he was dropping out of the 2020 Democratic primary to pursue reelection to the House.

Biden also commended Swalwell for bringing attention to the issue of gun control during his 2020 presidential run.

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The warm words from Biden came after the two sparred during the first Democratic debate, with Swalwell urging Biden to “pass the torch” to younger generations.

“.@EricSwalwell ran a passionate campaign, and I commend him for bringing more attention to the urgent need for gun safety reform in America,” Biden tweeted Monday.

.@EricSwalwell ran a passionate campaign, and I commend him for bringing more attention to the urgent need for gun safety reform in America. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2019

Swalwell, the first major Democrat to drop out of the 2020 primary, wrote in a post on his campaign website that he decided to drop out because his polling and fundraising numbers were not “what we had hoped for” and he no longer saw “a path forward to the nomination.”

Swalwell focused his presidential campaign on addressing gun violence, kicking off his campaign in April just miles away from Parkland, Fla.

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Biden also praised Swalwell’s push for improved election security as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, where the lawmaker called for an impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE after Trump said he would “listen” if a foreign government offered him political dirt on a political opponent.

“His leadership on the House Intelligence Committee and his influential voice pushing the Trump Administration to secure our elections have helped make clear the stakes for our country in next year's election,” Biden tweeted.

His leadership on the House Intelligence Committee and his influential voice pushing the Trump Administration to secure our elections have helped make clear the stakes for our country in next year's election. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2019

“The Democratic Party is lucky to have leaders like Eric, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the pressing issues facing Americans,” the former vice president added.

The Democratic Party is lucky to have leaders like Eric, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the pressing issues facing Americans. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.), another 2020 hopeful, joined Biden in applauding Swalwell on Monday. Harris tweeted that Swalwell is a “great fighter for the people of California.”