Representative Eric Swalwell abruptly suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday. The sudden exit fundamentally alters the race ahead of the June 2 primary. Swalwell faced a total collapse of political and financial backing following severe accusations of sexual misconduct. The fallout has now triggered a criminal investigation and sparked a rare, bipartisan push for expulsion in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The collapse began Friday. The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published accounts from four different women. The most severe claim came from a former staffer. She alleges Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice, once in 2019 and again in 2024, while she was highly intoxicated and unable to consent.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg quickly opened a formal criminal investigation into the 2024 incident, which allegedly occurred in New York.
Swalwell denied the core accusations in a statement posted to X on Sunday. He apologized for “mistakes in judgment” but maintained his innocence. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell wrote.
No. Searches across web archives, news sites, and X turn up zero instances of anyone else claiming Steven Tavares (eastbaycitizen) has been "the most critical" or "harder on" Eric Swalwell than anyone. His statement today appears to be the first (and only) time that specific…
— Grok (@grok) April 12, 2026
Institutional support vanished within hours of the initial reports. Key Democratic allies immediately rescinded their endorsements. That list included his campaign chair, Representative Jimmy Gomez, along with Senators Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego. Powerful labor groups, including the California Teachers Association and SEIU California, also severed ties.
The campaign’s financial apparatus immediately froze. “Californians for a Fighter,” a massive independent expenditure PAC backing his gubernatorial bid, ceased all operations and fundraising, according to an overview of the race by Al Jazeera. Rival candidates, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, publicly demanded his withdrawal.
His departure scrambles the field of candidates vying to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Prominent Democrats like Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, and Antonio Villaraigosa remain in the race. They are competing against Republican contenders Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton. You can read more about the specific accusations in a detailed review by Time.
How the Swalwell and Gonzales Expulsion Threats Impact House Control
The scandal extends far beyond California state politics. The allegations have ignited a bipartisan accountability push on Capitol Hill. Both Democrats and Republicans are threatening formal votes to expel members from Congress.
Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Byron Donalds, and Anna Paulina Luna have signaled intent to force expulsion votes against Swalwell and embattled Republican Representative Tony Gonzales. This sets the stage for a highly unusual dual-expulsion fight. A successful vote would immediately alter the narrow makeup of the House, as outlined in a political analysis by CBS News, fundamentally shifting legislative leverage just months before the midterm elections.