Arizona Democratic Representative Joanna Mendoza, who is campaigning for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, is currently not responding to inquiries regarding her endorsement from a political action committee (PAC) linked to Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and former Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who has faced serious accusations.
Last month, Mendoza expressed excitement over receiving an endorsement from the National Party. The Future Forum PAC, founded by Swalwell—who has been implicated in allegations of sexual assault including rape—was part of this announcement.
“Endorsement alert! I am honored to support Future Forum PAC!” she declared. “The Future Forum is focused on empowering the next generation of Congressional leaders, and together we’ll build a better, fairer future for all families in #AZ06.”
However, it’s interesting to note that the PAC’s website has since removed any mention of Swalwell, which had previously been featured prominently.
This acknowledgment of Swalwell as a close associate—who she referred to as her “best friend“—remains visible on Mendoza’s campaign site.
Despite being pressed on this endorsement, Mendoza has declined to comment, particularly in light of the serious allegations surfacing recently.
One question posed was, “Do you still feel honored by Ruben Gallego’s support, given his friendship with Eric Swalwell? Are you convinced he knew nothing about Swalwell’s harassment of women, and are you aware that Gallego himself has faced similar accusations?”
The inquiry continued, asking her if she still appreciated Gallego’s backing despite the surrounding controversy. However, Mendoza did not respond at all.
Swalwell previously suspended his gubernatorial campaign and resigned amid a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. One accuser made headlines by publicly detailing her experience.
Ronna Drews, who accused Democratic congressmen, described how in 2018, while managing a fashion software company, she knew Swalwell socially. He had invited her to events and facilitated connections for her business.
“I reached out to Eric Swalwell on multiple occasions. After social meetings, he helped me network and grow my company,” she stated, noting she was aware of his marital status and that his wife was expecting a child.
Drews then recounted a harrowing incident where she believed Swalwell had drugged her and led her to his hotel room, where she alleged that he raped her and choked her, causing her to lose consciousness.
“He raped me while strangling me; I lost consciousness and thought I would die,” she said.
She affirmed, “I had not consented to any sexual activity.” Although she did not undergo a rape kit at the time, she confided in close friends and documented the experience in her handwritten calendar.
After the allegations surfaced, Gallego distanced himself from Swalwell, though some of his allies have persisted in their support. As noted by Breitbart News, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) mentioned last week that Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate ethics officials were examining details related to the alleged incidents and possible campaign finance violations.
