Representative Eric Swalwell announced on X that he is suspending his campaign for governor of California, pointing to personal issues and ongoing allegations against him.
Swalwell expressed his apology in a statement, saying, “I am canceling my gubernatorial campaign. I deeply apologize to my family, staff, friends, and supporters for the errors in judgment I made in the past.” He added that while he intends to fight the serious allegations against him, that fight should not be tied to his political campaign.
This decision comes as pressure has mounted following sexual assault allegations detailed in a report from the San Francisco Chronicle. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have urged him to withdraw from the race and consider resignation from Congress.
Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged Swalwell to resign, stating that the serious allegations need to be treated with respect and investigated thoroughly, separate from his gubernatorial aspirations. “The young women who made serious allegations against Rep. Swalwell deserve to be respected and heard,” she added.
Following the report, numerous other Democrats joined Pelosi, with some retracting their previous endorsements of Swalwell’s campaign. Senator Ruben Gallego remarked on X that, having read the allegations, they are “indefensible” and emphasized that women who come forward with such statements should be heard with respect.
Representative Ted Lieu also announced his withdrawal of support, indicating that the allegations have affected his decision to back Swalwell’s campaign.
The Chronicle’s report included serious accusations from women claiming Swalwell engaged in inappropriate behavior, including pursuing intoxicated women and demanding explicit images. The allegations first gained attention due to a social media post from former Capitol Hill staffer Cheyenne Hunt, who described Swalwell’s predatory behavior.
Despite the allegations gaining traction, Swalwell’s spokesperson previously characterized them as false and politically motivated, suggesting they were being used to undermine his campaign as he led the gubernatorial race.
Now, Swalwell’s exit adds further uncertainty to the race for California’s next governor ahead of the June primary, with early voting commencing on May 4th. Polls indicate Swalwell had been leading the Democratic candidates, including former U.S. Representative Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer, both of whom had urged him to step aside. The Democratic lineup also features former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
On the Republican side, leading candidates include conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Trump’s recent endorsement of Hilton seemed to boost his standings, yet neither candidate secured enough delegate support at the California Republican Party’s convention to win the party’s endorsement.
In the upcoming primary, both Democrats and Republicans will appear on the same ballot, with the top two candidates moving forward to the general election in November.
