LOS ANGELES — The California governor’s race was thrown into upheaval this weekend when Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell withdrew his candidacy following published reports of sexual assault allegations, prompting his competitors to immediately pursue his former base of support in an already packed primary field.
Swalwell announced the suspension of his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday, just days after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published accounts from a woman alleging he sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions, including once while she was employed by him. Despite ending his campaign, the congressman remained combative in a statement posted to social media platform X, declaring, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
The congressman’s withdrawal immediately sparked a scramble among remaining candidates to capture his supporters in what political observers describe as a wide-open contest with no dominant frontrunner. Mail-in ballots are set to be distributed to voters in early May ahead of the June 2 primary.
Fellow Democrat Katie Porter, considered among the race’s leading contenders, shared a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece on social media stating, “Democrats can pull victory from the jaws of defeat by coalescing around Porter.” Meanwhile, billionaire activist Tom Steyer announced he had gained the endorsement of Bay Area Representative Jared Huffman.
The primary ballot features seven established Democratic candidates and two prominent Republicans among more than 50 total contenders. Although Swalwell has ended his campaign, election rules prevent removing his name from the ballot.
“Nobody has really caught fire,” observed Democratic strategist Andrew Acosta, who is not affiliated with any campaign. He predicted Swalwell’s supporters “will scatter out to other candidates.”
Swalwell gained national recognition as a House manager during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment proceedings in early 2021. However, in a media landscape dominated by Trump coverage, the California governor’s race has struggled to capture widespread voter attention.
Following the sexual misconduct allegations becoming public, “I think there are probably more people who know who Eric Swalwell is than can articulate a Tom Steyer position paper,” Acosta noted.
Political analysts had ranked Swalwell among the top contenders alongside Democrats Steyer and Porter, plus Republicans Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton.
The dramatic turn of events represents a stunning 48-hour collapse for a candidate who had appeared to be building momentum in the race to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who cannot seek a third term under state law.
While Swalwell has denied the allegations, his public statements have appeared to acknowledge personal misconduct. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he wrote. This followed a Friday video message in which he apologized to his wife.
The allegations have reshuffled a gubernatorial contest that already had Democrats concerned about their numerous candidates potentially splitting the vote and being shut out of November’s general election. California’s top-two primary system advances the two highest vote-getters to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Swalwell had emerged as a target for Democratic rivals as he secured key institutional endorsements. Some opponents had begun referencing unsubstantiated social media rumors about sexual misconduct weeks before the Chronicle’s investigation.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting, a woman alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 while she worked for him, and again in 2024. The woman told reporters she did not contact police following either incident because she feared not being believed. She stated she was too intoxicated to provide consent in both instances. CNN published similar allegations that appeared to involve the same accuser, and interviewed additional women who described other instances of alleged sexual misconduct by Swalwell.
Both news organizations protected the woman’s identity, and The Associated Press has been unable to independently confirm her account or identity. Her attorney declined to provide comment.
The alleged 2024 incident reportedly occurred in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is conducting an investigation. Prosecutors have encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact their special victims unit.
As Swalwell’s campaign crumbled over the weekend, several California colleagues called for his resignation from Congress, including Representatives Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, and Sam Liccardo. They were joined by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal stated Sunday. “This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated.”
Several lawmakers indicated they would support the extraordinary measure of expelling Swalwell from the House if he refuses to resign voluntarily.
The mounting pressure began when key allies including Senator Adam Schiff and Representative Jimmy Gomez withdrew their support. Gomez, who had been helping manage Swalwell’s campaign, announced he was immediately ending his involvement.
With Congress returning to session Tuesday, the question of potential expulsion could advance rapidly. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, announced Saturday she would file a motion to begin the expulsion process.
House expulsions require a two-thirds majority and are extremely rare, but recent precedent exists. Republican George Santos of New York became just the sixth House member in history expelled by colleagues in 2023 due to his conduct.
Representatives Huffman, Jayapal, and Leger Fernández stated they would vote to expel Swalwell, though they also support expelling Representative Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide.
Swalwell, originally from Iowa, won election in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a brief presidential campaign in April 2019 but ended it months later after failing to gain traction with voters.
