Democratic Congressman Ends Bid to Succeed Gov. Newsom Amid Growing Calls for Resignation
Congressman Eric Swalwell has officially withdrawn from the California gubernatorial race, bowing to mounting political pressure following serious allegations of sexual assault that emerged in recent media reports. The shocking development marks a dramatic collapse of what appeared to be a competitive campaign just days earlier.
What Led to Swalwell’s Decision
In a brief statement posted to social media on Sunday, the California Democrat announced the end of his gubernatorial ambitions. “I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell wrote, acknowledging personal failings while disputing the serious allegations against him.
He continued, “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.”
The Allegations That Changed Everything
Swalwell’s exit came directly after investigative reporting from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle brought forward accounts of alleged sexual assault from a former member of his staff, along with misconduct allegations from multiple other women. The revelations prompted swift and decisive action from fellow lawmakers across the political spectrum.
The weight of these accusations proved too heavy for his campaign to bear. Within days, prominent endorsers withdrew their support, and influential Democratic figures began publicly calling for him to not only leave the race but resign from Congress entirely.
Bipartisan Calls for Accountability
The response to Swalwell’s alleged misconduct transcended party lines—a rare sight in today’s polarized Congress. Representative Ro Khanna, a fellow Democrat, appeared on Fox News Sunday to characterize the behavior as “sick and disgusting” and demanded investigations from both law enforcement and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representative Pramila Jayapal voiced a similar sentiment, emphasizing that the issue goes beyond partisan politics. “This is not a partisan issue,” she stated. “This cuts across party lines. And it is the depravity of the way that women have been treated.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed it had launched its own investigation into the allegations on Saturday, adding another layer of legal scrutiny.
Political Fallout and Expulsion Threats
Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna announced plans to submit a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress—a move that surprisingly garnered potential support from some Democrats. This represented a striking moment of bipartisan unity on the matter.
The situation drew parallels to other misconduct cases in Congress. Democrats have similarly called for the expulsion of Republican Representative Tony Gonzales from Texas, who faces his own sexual misconduct allegations. Both Representatives Ro Khanna and Byron Donalds signaled they could support removing both lawmakers from office.
“As far as I’m concerned, both gentlemen need to go home,” Republican Representative Byron Donalds said plainly.
The Campaign That Could Have Been
Just weeks before his withdrawal, polling data suggested Swalwell was positioned competitively in the race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom. An Emerson College survey conducted in March showed him ahead of both Democratic and Republican challengers. However, the sexual assault allegations effectively derailed any momentum he had built.
The swift implosion of his campaign underscores the growing intolerance for sexual misconduct allegations among voters and Democratic leadership alike—a stark contrast to how such issues were sometimes handled in earlier decades.
