Independent congressional candidate Eric J. Troutman claims significant progress in his anti-robocall campaign following a sharp decline in robocalls throughout the United States. New data indicates that robocalls fell dramatically in October 2025, coinciding with Troutman’s efforts in California’s 47th Congressional District. This decrease has been linked to Troutman’s advocacy against unwanted calls, marking a notable shift in the ongoing struggle against telemarketing and scam calls.
October Robocalls Hit Lowest Level Since 2023
According to YouMail’s Robocall Index, Americans faced some of the highest robocall volumes in early 2025. Monthly totals from January to June were approximately 8% to 11% higher than the same months in 2024, with April reaching just under 5 billion calls, the highest since mid-2023. Although May and June saw a slight decrease, the numbers remained elevated compared to the previous year.
Troutman believes that context is crucial. He argues that robocall volumes were not only high but were also increasing faster than in the previous year until he announced his candidacy on July 4, 2025. Following his entry into the race, YouMail reported a notable change. July volumes were approximately flat compared to July 2024, breaking the trend of consistent annual growth. By August, the index recorded around 4.1 billion robocalls, down over 6% from August 2024.
The most significant drop occurred in October, when YouMail reported just under 3.8 billion robocalls, marking a decline of nearly 24% compared to October 2024 and the lowest monthly total since December 2023. Troutman sees this year-over-year decrease as a sign that “the bad guys know the Czar is coming after them.”
Troutman Claims Robocallers Are “Terrified”
Known in industry circles as “the Czar” for his expertise in robocall and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) cases, Troutman is a telecom and privacy lawyer based in Irvine. He emphasizes that his congressional campaign is focused on eliminating unwanted calls, stating, “It’s pretty obvious what’s going on here. Robocallers are terrified. They know the Czar is coming after them and will put a stop to their nonsense once and for all.”
Troutman contends that his candidacy sends a strong signal to scam operators and illegal telemarketers, arguing that they react to the actions of regulators, carriers, and lawyers involved in compliance. “When the Czar speaks, everyone listens,” he asserts. “The bad guys know the jig is up as soon as I’m elected. So they’re hightailing it out of here while they still can.”
While YouMail does not attribute the decline in robocalls to Troutman’s campaign, its reports highlight enforcement actions, carrier tools, and shifts in scam and telemarketing patterns as factors influencing the data. Troutman’s perspective on the timing of the decline is his own interpretation.
Troutman’s Campaign Focused on Robocall Enforcement
In addition to his political ambitions, Troutman operates TCPAWorld.com, a blog that monitors developments in robocall and TCPA enforcement. He co-founded the law firm Troutman Amin, LLP, where his analysis of federal and state regulations is closely followed by call centers, carriers, and compliance teams. His nickname, “the Czar,” stems from his enforcement-heavy reputation rather than his political campaign.
As he seeks to bring his focus on robocall enforcement to Congress, Troutman frames his race as an opportunity to combat bad-faith callers and provide legitimate businesses with clearer regulations. His campaign website, TroutmanForAmerica.com, alongside his political blog, AmericaDeservesToWin.com, emphasizes this mission.
Robocalls and the CA-47 Race
California’s 47th Congressional District includes parts of coastal Orange County, such as Irvine and surrounding cities, and is considered a competitive seat. Troutman is running as an independent candidate and has repeatedly criticized Democratic incumbent Dave Min on various issues, including public safety and ethics. He now adds robocall enforcement to these concerns, asserting that voters who want fewer unwanted calls should elect a telecom lawyer.
“Look, everyone expects me to beat Dave Min. This doesn’t look to be a close race,” Troutman states. “But if the Democrats somehow manage to hold onto this seat, you can fully expect robocall numbers to spike again. And that’s terrible for everyone.”
Continued Challenge of Robocalls
Despite the decline observed in October, Americans still receive billions of robocalls each month. YouMail’s data indicates that over half of these calls fall into scam or telemarketing categories, which most consumers prefer to avoid. This presents a significant gap between Troutman’s promise to end robocalls and the ongoing reality.
As the race for California’s 47th Congressional District progresses toward the 2026 elections, voters will ultimately determine whether Troutman’s “Czar” brand and his commitment to combating robocalls resonate alongside more pressing issues such as the economy, crime, and the control of Congress. For now, the data reflects a significant drop in October, but the overall problem of robocalls remains far from resolved.
