Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California suspended his campaign for governor, after multiple serious sexual misconduct allegations destroyed his political future. Swalwell, 45, had been the front-runner to replace Governor Gavin Newsom and had secured endorsements from numerous labor unions and prominent lawmakers, all of which disappeared almost immediately after the reports came out.
According to CNN, the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed it had opened an investigation into an allegation of sexual assault after a former staffer accused Swalwell of assaulting her in New York City. Separately, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in California announced it is evaluating whether any criminal conduct occurred within its jurisdiction regarding a separate alleged incident from 2019 involving the same woman.
Swalwell posted on X that night, writing, “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.” Senior campaign officials had already resigned after the initial reports were published, and staff from both his congressional office and his campaign issued a statement condemning his behavior.
Swalwell faces multiple accusers as legal investigations move forward on two fronts
A former staffer told reporters that she was sexually assaulted twice by Swalwell between 2019 and 2024. She described one incident in April 2024, where she said she was heavily intoxicated after a night of drinking with Swalwell in New York City, and woke up to find him having sex with her in his hotel bed.
According to The Independent, she stated that she “was pushing him away and saying no, but he did not stop.” Three other women also came forward with allegations of misconduct between 2021 and 2025, ranging from receiving unsolicited nude photos to unwanted physical advances while Swalwell was intoxicated.
I am suspending my campaign for Governor.
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) April 13, 2026
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.
At least three of these women reportedly received cease-and-desist letters from a lawyer representing Swalwell, threatening legal action if they did not retract their claims. Swalwell has consistently denied the allegations and previously suggested they were part of a coordinated effort to harm his campaign.
In a video posted on X, he said that for nearly 20 years he has served the public as a prosecutor and a congressman and has “always protected women,” and that he would defend himself with the facts. Cases where law enforcement officers themselves face serious criminal charges have become an increasing concern across the country.
Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 11, 2026
The political fallout has been swift. There are now active calls for Swalwell to resign from the House of Representatives entirely. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida has reportedly planned to file a motion to expel him from the House.
Other political figures have spoken out strongly. Matt Mahan, the Mayor of San Jose and a fellow candidate for governor, said, “Eric Swalwell is done. Done abusing women. Done climbing the political ladder. Done. He does not get any credit for doing less than the bare minimum.” Mahan added that exiting a race one should never have entered deserves no credit, and argued that Swalwell represented the worst of politics.
Eric Swalwell is done. Done abusing women. Done climbing the political ladder. Done.
— Mayor Matt Mahan (@MattMahanSJ) April 13, 2026
He does not get any credit for doing less than the bare minimum. Exiting a race you should never have entered deserves no credit. It is an overdue acknowledgment of what the brave survivors who… https://t.co/BDWeLwbxmi
Swalwell previously served as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County and ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primary. He has represented California’s 14th congressional district since 2023, after serving the 15th district from 2013.
The California all-party primary election is scheduled for June 2, and the legal investigations by both the Manhattan district attorney and Alameda County authorities are still ongoing. In other cases, accusations against public figures have taken unexpected turns, such as when a suspected serial killer turned out to be a cop in a shocking Long Island case.
