California Gov. Newsom sets date for special election to finish out Swalwell’s term
A special election to finish the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term in Congress will be held this summer after he resigned following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday.
The Democratic governor set the date for August 18.
Mr. Swalwell, also a Democrat from California, resigned his House seat on Tuesday amid these allegations.
Two days earlier, he ended his gubernatorial campaign, for which he was his party’s favorite, as party leaders called for an investigation into the rape allegations and powerful individuals and groups withdrew their support.
Mr Swalwell apologized for his “errors of judgement” but denied the accusations. Even after ending his campaign for governor, he vowed to “fight the serious and false allegations made against me.”
“Congressman Eric Swalwell categorically and unequivocally denies all allegations of sexual misconduct and assault that have been made against him,” Sara Azari, the former lawmaker’s attorney, said in a statement Tuesday.
A special primary for Mr. Swalwell’s seat, in a Democratic stronghold, will be held on June 16. The ballot will include all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, in accordance with California law. If no one receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters in the special primary will advance to the August election.
The ultimate winner will serve the remainder of their term, ending in January.
Nine candidates are already vying to fill the void and take on the full term beginning in 2027. That includes six Democrats: state Sen. Aisha Wahab, San Leandro City Council member Victor Aguilar Jr., Bay Area Rapid Transit Board Chairwoman Melissa Hernandez, businesswoman Carin Elam, businessman Matt Ortega and attorney Rakhi Israni.
Real estate investor Wendy Huang and business owner Dena Maldonado make up the two Republican candidates. Lawyer Suzanne Chenault presents herself as independent.
Another vacancy made it necessary to hold a special election after the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, Republican of California, in January. A special election for his remaining term will be held on August 4 if no candidate receives more than half of the votes in the June 2 primary.
Mr. Swalwell is not the only member of Congress to leave the House over sexual misconduct. He is joined by Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, who is leaving after admitting to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not yet announced a special election for Mr. Gonzales’s seat.
