Eric Swalwell suspends California governor campaign following sexual assault allegations

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for California governor following sexual assault allegations that he denied.

"I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s," Swalwell said on X.

His announcement came as Democrats quickly abandoned him after the allegations were published lately that he had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.

A woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024, stating that in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent.

Though Swalwell denied the account, suggesting they are part of a political attack, he apologized to his wife and supporters for "mistakes in judgment" in his past.

Political fallout

A growing number of Democrats urged the congressman both to quit the race and resign his seat in Congress.

Fellow California Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna and Sam Liccardo said Swalwell should resign, as did Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

"This is not a partisan issue," Jayapal said Sunday.

"This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated."

Swalwell has seen his most prominent supporters, including Senator Adam Schiff and powerful labour unions, pull their endorsements.

Representative Jimmy Gomez, who helped run the campaign, said he was immediately ending his role.

The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state, with mail ballots due to go out to voters in less than a month.

The woman told the San Francisco Chronicle she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed.

Swalwell's attorney has confirmed he sent a cease-and-desist letter to the accuser, calling the claims "baseless."

Swalwell, who represented a House district east of San Francisco since 2012, made no mention of resigning from Congress in his statement.