Summary continued: what is known about the allegations and the political fallout
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is leaving Congress and exiting the race for California governor after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced, which he denies, and after lawmakers pressed for a bipartisan vote to expel him. The Associated Press reports that Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign days after the San Francisco Chronicle published allegations and that, as additional accusations emerged, his supporters began leaving the effort.
The campaign unraveling happened within about 48 hours, according to the report. The Chronicle said it interviewed a woman who alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019—when he was her boss—and again in 2024. The woman told the Chronicle she was too intoxicated to consent in both instances and did not go to police at the time because she was afraid she would not be believed.
Later, CNN reported allegations that it said appeared to come from the same woman. Neither the Chronicle nor CNN named the accuser, and her lawyer declined to comment. CNN also reported interviews with several other women who accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate messages and nude photos.
A California woman then held a news conference Tuesday identifying herself and saying she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell in 2018. The report said she believes Swalwell drugged her before raping her, and that she plans to make a report to law enforcement. Swalwell has maintained that the allegations are false, and the Associated Press reported that he said it would be unfair to constituents for him to remain in Congress while he was distracted from his duties.
In a social media post, Swalwell said, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.” Attorney Sara Azari later released a statement on Swalwell’s behalf saying he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.” As of the report, the allegations have not been resolved in court, and their specifics remain contested.
Swalwell’s departure from the governor’s race is also likely to reshape alliances among his rivals and other top Democrats as the primary nears, with no clear front-runner. The Associated Press reported that former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire financier Tom Steyer are among Democrats seeking to capture former Swalwell backers ahead of the June 2 vote. The report also noted that two leading Republicans—Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton—are among the more than 50 candidates in the field.
Under California’s top-two primary system, only the two highest vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. The Associated Press said there are still seven established Democrats in the race, and Swalwell’s exit narrows the field of top contenders but comes too late for his name to be removed from the ballot. The report also said Newsom has acknowledged concerns within the party that a large field could split Democratic support in a way that gives Republicans a path to win one of the two spots.
Separately, the House seat Swalwell vacated is set for a special election this summer. Newsom set the contest for Aug. 18 to fill the seat, according to the report. The Associated Press said Swalwell’s announcement came as the House Ethics Committee said it had begun investigating whether he engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee, and it added that the probe’s future is uncertain because lawmakers often leave before investigations conclude.
The Associated Press also reported that Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said Monday he would retire from Congress after bipartisan calls to expel him, and he officially resigned Tuesday. The report said some lawmakers had urged expelling both Swalwell and Gonzales simultaneously and that Gonzales had already said he would not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.
Additional context: Swalwell’s political record before the exit
Swalwell, originally from Iowa, was first elected to Congress in 2012 and represented a district east of San Francisco, the Associated Press said. The report said he launched a presidential bid in April 2019 but dropped out after a few months. It also noted he served as a House manager in Trump’s second impeachment trial in early 2021 and that he played a role investigating ties between Trump associates and Russian officials as a member of the House Intelligence Committee. As the fallout continues, the immediate political question for Democrats is how they consolidate support and positioning in a governor’s race shaped by the top-two primary rules.