Representative Eric Swalwell’s bid for California governor came to an abrupt end on April 12, 2026, after a cascade of sexual assault and misconduct allegations surfaced, sending shockwaves through the state’s political landscape and the national Democratic Party. The allegations, first detailed in reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN between April 10 and April 11, 2026, included accounts from a former staff member and three other women. As the story unfolded, the fallout was swift and severe—endorsements evaporated, supporters fled, and calls for Swalwell’s resignation from Congress grew louder by the hour.
Swalwell, 45, who had been a frontrunner in the crowded race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, responded to the allegations in a statement posted on social media Sunday evening. “I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” he wrote. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made – but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.” Despite his denial, the gravity of the accusations and the speed of the political backlash left him little room to maneuver.
The most serious accusation came from a former staff member, who alleged that Swalwell solicited oral sex from her while she worked for him and twice sexually assaulted her when she was too drunk to consent. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the last alleged incident took place in New York in 2024. Medical records and corroborating accounts from people the woman spoke with after the incident lent weight to her story. CNN reported on additional allegations from three other women: one accused Swalwell of kissing and touching her inappropriately, while the other two said he sent unsolicited nude photos and other explicit messages on Snapchat.
Rumors about Swalwell’s alleged misconduct had been circulating online for weeks, but the publication of detailed accounts by major news outlets tipped the scales. The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN’s reporting triggered a rapid unraveling of Swalwell’s campaign. Within hours, major unions and prominent Democratic leaders—including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—called for him to withdraw from the race. California Senator Adam Schiff, who had been a high-profile supporter, rescinded his endorsement, and Senator Alex Padilla, previously neutral, joined the chorus urging Swalwell to step aside.
The collapse of support was dramatic. Campaign co-chairs, including Congressmen Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, stepped down. Over the weekend, emergency meetings were held by labor unions to withdraw their endorsements, and congressional candidates distanced themselves from the embattled congressman. Swalwell’s campaign manager, Yardena Wolf, confirmed on April 12 that she remained on payroll only to sign her subordinates’ paychecks, having had no recent contact with Swalwell. “He was with us at a town hall in Sacramento last week, where he forcefully denied rumors of inappropriate behavior to reporters and said he had never had any sexual encounters with any staff,” Wolf told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Swalwell’s troubles did not end with the political fallout. On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced it was opening a criminal investigation into the alleged 2024 assault in New York. By Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security had launched a separate investigation into allegations that Swalwell had hired a Brazilian national as a nanny without lawful work authorization—a claim brought to light by a complaint filed months earlier by California filmmaker Joel Gilbert.
Pressure mounted on multiple fronts. Members of Congress from both parties began discussing the possibility of expelling Swalwell from the House of Representatives. Republican Anna Paulina Luna announced plans to submit a motion to begin the process, and Democrats such as Pramila Jayapal said they could support it. “This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal stated. “This cuts across party lines. And it is the depravity of the way that women have been treated.” Republican Representative Byron Donalds echoed the sentiment, saying, “As far as I’m concerned, both gentlemen need to go home,” referring also to Republican Tony Gonzales, who faces separate misconduct allegations.
Swalwell’s fall from grace was particularly stunning given his recent political trajectory. A March 2026 Emerson College poll had shown him leading both Democratic and Republican challengers in the race to replace Newsom. Known nationally for his fierce opposition to former President Donald Trump—he served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial—Swalwell had quickly risen to prominence among liberal voters. He entered the gubernatorial race late, announcing his candidacy during a November appearance on ABC’s late-night show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, but soon surged to the top of the Democratic field.
The California governor’s race, already fiercely contested, was thrown into turmoil by Swalwell’s exit. The state’s unusual primary system allows the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to advance to the general election. With Swalwell gone, Democrats worried that Republicans Steve Hilton, a British-born political consultant, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco could seize the top two spots in the June 2 primary, potentially locking Democrats out of the November ballot. Other Democrats vying for the nomination include billionaire Tom Steyer, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Swalwell’s rivals were quick to react. San José Mayor Matt Mahan called Swalwell “the worst of politics,” while Villaraigosa argued that suspending his campaign was “not sufficient.” “Eric Swalwell must resign his position in Congress and completely withdraw from the governor’s race immediately,” Villaraigosa said, reflecting the growing sentiment that Swalwell’s political career may be over, at least for now.
Despite the mounting evidence and the loss of nearly all institutional support, Swalwell has continued to deny the allegations, describing them in a video statement as “flat false” and part of an orchestrated effort to derail his campaign. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made—but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” he reiterated on social media. Yet, even as he vowed to clear his name, the practical realities of campaign deadlines meant that his name will still appear on the June 2 primary ballot, though few expect him to mount any kind of comeback.
Swalwell’s suspension of his campaign marks a dramatic turn in California politics and sends a clear message about the speed and severity with which the political and legal systems now respond to allegations of sexual misconduct. As investigations proceed and the race for governor reshuffles, one thing is certain: the political landscape in California will not be the same.