Rep. Eric Swalwell Withdraws from California Governor Race Following Abuse Allegations

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign Ends as Congressman Faces Sexual Misconduct Scandal

Sacramento, Ca — Representative Eric Swalwell officially suspended his campaign for Governor of California on Sunday night, following a devastating weekend that saw his frontrunner status collapse under the weight of multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations. The 45-year-old congressman, who has represented California’s 14th District since 2013, faced a total exodus of political allies after a series of reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed disturbing accusations from four different women.

The scandal began on Friday, April 10, when a former congressional staffer alleged that Swalwell twice sexually assaulted her—once in 2019 while she was employed in his Castro Valley office, and again in 2024. The accuser provided medical records and corroborated her account with friends, describing incidents where she was too intoxicated to provide consent and woke up with physical injuries. The fallout was immediate. Within hours, campaign chair Rep. Jimmy Gomez and senior advisor Courtni Pugh resigned, calling the accusations the “ugliest and most serious imaginable.” Powerhouse unions, including the California Teachers Association (CTA) and SEIU California, rescinded their support, while U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla called for Swalwell to exit the race to allow for a transparent investigation.

In a statement posted to social media on April 12, Swalwell maintained his innocence while acknowledging his campaign was over. He stated that while he intends to fight what he calls “false allegations,” he must do so as a private citizen rather than a candidate. Despite his suspension, Swalwell’s name will remain on the June 2 primary ballot due to passed withdrawal deadlines. Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has confirmed it is looking into the alleged 2024 incident that occurred in New York. While Swalwell has not yet resigned from his seat in Congress, several colleagues—including Reps. Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal—have already signaled that his position in the House is no longer tenable.