Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for California governor after sexual misconduct allegations triggered a political firestorm, collapsing support and sparking calls for his resignation from Congress.
The accusations, reported by San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, include claims from a former staffer and other women. Swalwell has denied the allegations and continued to do so Sunday.
🚨 CNN interviews a woman who alleges that she was raped by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who is running for governor in California.
Breaking AlertsDon't miss the stories that matter.Get Sean's breaking news alerts — free, direct to your inbox.She says that they were at a bar and she got up to use the bathroom and that her memory of what happened from that point on is mostly gone.
She says… pic.twitter.com/nRUQQhryGr
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) April 10, 2026
“To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a post on X. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
🚨 BREAKING — IT’S OFFICIAL: Eric Swalwell has DROPPED OUT of the race for Governor of California following exposés and credible r*pe allegations
GOOD RIDDANCE, LOSER!
Enjoy unemployment! 🔥
I’ll still be supporting CRIMINAL indictments against ya, bud. pic.twitter.com/OoMenVF0YB
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 13, 2026
The fallout was swift.
Endorsements evaporated. A criminal investigation was launched. And Democratic colleagues began publicly urging him to step aside.
USCIS has been collecting information on the allegations involving Congressman Eric Swalwell hiring of a Brazilian national as a nanny without lawful work authorization.@USCIS has referred this matter to DHS law enforcement for investigation.
No one is above the law, including… https://t.co/yFE4DeI3aC
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 12, 2026
Ro Khanna and Eugene Vindman called for Swalwell to resign outright.
Others, including Pramila Jayapal, Jared Huffman, and Teresa Leger Fernández, signaled they would support expulsion if he refuses.
The collapse comes at a pivotal moment in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Swalwell had been leading in early public polling among Democrats, ahead of Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer, both of whom had already urged him to drop out.
Now, the Democratic field is suddenly fluid.
Other contenders include former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, setting up what could become a wide-open scramble ahead of the June primary.
On the Republican side, the contest features commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
President Donald Trump recently endorsed Hilton, a move that has boosted his visibility, though not enough to secure the California GOP’s official backing at its state convention.
