Eric Swalwell ends bid for CA gubernatorial race, exits Congress

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced this week that he’s leaving Congress and the crowded contest for California governor following sexual assault allegations. The 45-year-old congressman was among a group of leading Democrats in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cannot seek a third term at the helm of the nation’s most populous state.

Swalwell’s campaign unraveled in about 48 hours, after the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman twice on Friday. One of the incidents occurred when she worked for him. Later the same day, CNN reported that other women accused him of various forms of sexual misconduct. Following these reports, multiple staffers resigned, and both prominent allies and rival candidates called on the Democrat to exit the race.

The Chronicle interviewed a woman who alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, when he was her boss, and again in 2024. She said she was too intoxicated to consent to sex in both cases and did not go to the police at the time because she was afraid she would not be believed.

CNN reported allegations that appeared to come from the same woman. Neither outlet named her, and her lawyer declined to comment. CNN also spoke to several other women who accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate messages and nude photos.

A California woman then held a news conference on Tuesday, identifying herself and saying she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell in 2018 and now plans to make a report to law enforcement. She said she believes Swalwell drugged her before raping her.

Swalwell denies these allegations but suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday, saying in a social media post, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

Swalwell said on Monday that he would leave Congress on his own terms as lawmakers pushed for a bipartisan vote to expel him.

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire financier Tom Steyer, a 2020 presidential candidate, are among other top Democrats seeking to snatch up Swalwell’s former backers as the primary nears with no clear front-runner.