Swalwell Quits California Governor Race Amid Mounting Misconduct Allegations

Getty Images

U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor of California following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations and growing pressure from senior Democrats to withdraw from the race.

The Democrat, once considered a leading contender in the contest to succeed Gavin Newsom, announced his decision in a statement on social media, apologizing for “mistakes in judgment” while strongly denying the allegations against him.

“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made, but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said, confirming his exit just weeks before ballots are due to be mailed ahead of the 2 June election.

The controversy erupted after a report in the San Francisco Chronicle detailed accusations from a former staff member, who alleged that Swalwell engaged in inappropriate behavior shortly after she began working in his district office. The woman claimed he sent sexual messages and solicited sex, and described two separate encounters in which she said she later awoke with little memory of events and signs of sexual trauma.

Additional allegations soon followed. CNN reported claims from four women, some of whom had worked for Swalwell, accusing him of misconduct ranging from harassment to rape. The claims intensified scrutiny on the congressman and rapidly shifted the political landscape of the gubernatorial race.

Swalwell has categorically denied all allegations, stating that he has “always protected women” throughout his nearly two decades in public service as both a prosecutor and a lawmaker. His legal team has reportedly issued cease-and-desist letters to some of the accusers.

The political fallout was swift. High-profile Democrats, including Adam Schiff and Hakeem Jeffries, withdrew their support within hours of the allegations becoming public, adding to calls for him to step aside.

Swalwell’s departure leaves the California governor’s race more open, removing a prominent figure from what had already been a competitive Democratic primary. The election will determine the leader of the most populous U.S. state at a time of significant political and economic challenges.

Despite ending his campaign, Swalwell signaled that he intends to continue fighting the accusations, framing the legal battle as separate from his political ambitions. For now, however, his exit marks a dramatic turning point in a race reshaped by scandal and underscores the rapid impact such allegations can have on public careers.