Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has announced the suspension of his campaign for the governorship of California following accusations of sexual assault made by several women.
In a post on X, Swalwell expressed that he was “deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment” that he had made, while adding that he would “fight the serious, false allegations.”
Swalwell expressed regret over past actions, stating, “I am suspending my campaign for Governor. To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.” He emphasized that the allegations are his personal battle to address, saying, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made—but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
The decision to step back from the gubernatorial race comes after a former staffer claimed in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, including incidents in 2019 and 2024. She also alleged that he made attempts to kiss her during her employment.
Additional details emerged when the staffer reiterated her claims to CNN, and three other women came forward with accusations of various forms of sexual misconduct against Swalwell.
In the wake of these allegations, several prominent Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), retracted their endorsements of Swalwell’s campaign. Moreover, influential figures within the House Democratic leadership, such as House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), urged Swalwell to terminate his bid for governor.
She said Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior at age 45, tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. Driving him to another event weeks later, she said Swalwell pulled out his penis in the car and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She said she did so in a parking lot.
In September 2019, the woman said, Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse. She said Swalwell distanced himself from her afterward and the relationship faded.
Five years later, the woman said, she attended an April 2024 charity gala where Swalwell was honored. The woman, who no longer worked for Swalwell, said they met for drinks afterward, during which she became so inebriated that she remembers only snippets of the night, including pushing Swalwell away and telling him, “No,” while he allegedly forced himself on her.
The former staffer also told CNN about both instances in which Swalwell had allegedly sexually assaulted her. “Three other women” also accused Swalwell of “alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct.”
In response to the sexual assault allegations, several Democrats, such as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), withdrew their endorsements of Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign. House Democrat leadership, such as House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), also called for Swalwell to end his campaign.
Several staffers working in Swalwell’s office, and on his gubernatorial campaign, also issued a letter that they were “horrified” by the sexual assault allegations. The staffers added that they “stand with” their former colleague, along with “the other women who have come forward.”
