Swalwell exit leaves California governor’s race in disarray
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s abrupt exit from California’s gubernatorial race has left his rivals scrambling to box his former supporters into a crowded contest without a clear leader, injecting even more turmoil into the campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state.
Swalwell’s decision to suspend his campaign Sunday follows allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman on two occasions, including while she worked for him. which have been published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle and later by CNN. While withdrawing from the race, he remained defiant in a post on social platform »
For rival candidates in a wide-open race, the key question is where Swalwell’s supporters will go. He was among the highest-profile Democrats in the race, with mail-in ballots scheduled for voters in early May, ahead of the June 2 primary election.
Katie Porter, a leading Democrat, posted a line from a San Francisco Chronicle column on X: “Democrats can bring victory from the jaws of defeat by uniting around Porter.” » Billionaire hedge fund manager turned liberal activist Tom Steyer said he gained support from Rep. Jared Huffman, a San Francisco Bay Area Democrat.
With seven established Democrats and two Republicans leading on a primary ballot with more than 50 candidates, the race remains fluid. Although Swalwell has suspended his campaign, his name cannot be removed from the ballot.
“No one really caught fire,” said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta, who is not involved in the campaign. Swalwell’s supporters will “disperse to other candidates.”
Many voters stay away from the governor’s race
Swalwell is perhaps best known nationally as President Donald Trump’s House manager. second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021. But in a media environment dominated by Trump, the race remains distant from many California voters.
After the publicity about the sexual misconduct allegations, “I think there are probably more people who know who Eric Swalwell is than who can express a Tom Steyer stance,” Acosta added.
Swalwell was considered a leading contender alongside fellow Democrats Steyer and Porter and two Republicans, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton.
The 48-hour period marked a rapid turnaround for a candidate who appeared to be gaining momentum in a crowded field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred by law from seeking a third term.
Although Swalwell denied the allegations, he appeared to reference infidelity in several statements.
“To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the errors of judgment I have made in my past,” he wrote. This followed a video post on Friday in which he apologized to his wife.
Swalwell’s departure shakes up campaign
The accusations revamped a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats are worried the party’s large number of candidates could lead to its exclusion from the November general election. That’s because California has a top-two primary system in which two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party.
Swalwell had become an obvious target for his Democratic rivals as he began to build institutional support. Some seized on rumors of sexual misconduct that circulated on social media weeks before the Chronicle’s report was published.
The San Francisco Chronicle spoke to a woman who claimed Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, while she worked for him, and again in 2024. The woman said she did not go to police at the time of the assaults because she was afraid she would not be believed. In both cases, the woman said she was too drunk to consent to sex. CNN reported allegations that appeared to come from the same woman and spoke to several other women who accused Swalwell of other sexual misconduct.
Neither media outlet named the woman, and The Associated Press was unable to independently verify her account and identity. His lawyer declined to comment.
The alleged 2024 incident occurred in New York and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it was investigating. That office urged anyone with knowledge to contact its special victims division.
House colleagues call for Swalwell’s resignation
With Swalwell’s campaign struggling over the weekend, California Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna and Sam Liccardo said Swalwell should resign, as did Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal said Sunday. “It cuts across party lines. And it’s a depravity in the way women have been treated.”
Some representatives said they would support the rare step of expelling him from the U.S. House of Representatives if he refused to step down.
This all adds up to growing political pressure on Swalwell, which began with allies like Senator Adam Schiff and Rep. Jimmy Gomez reduced his support. Gomez had helped run Swalwell’s campaign and said he was ending his role immediately.
With the House returning to session Tuesday, the question of whether to expel Swalwell could quickly arise. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Saturday she would file a motion to start the process.
Votes to expel in the House are rare and require a two-thirds majority, but there is recent precedent for taking this step. Republican George Santos of New York in 2023 has become just the sixth member in the history of the House of being ousted by colleagues for his conduct.
Huffman, Jayapal and Leger Fernández said they would vote to expel Swalwell from the House, although they also said they also supported the expulsion of Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later committed suicide.
Swalwell, an Iowa native, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential race in April 2019, but closed it a few months later after failing to convince voters.
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Associated Press writer Ben Finley in Washington contributed to this report.
