Summary: U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on April 12 after reports that a former staffer accused him of two nonconsensual encounters and other women made misconduct claims. Swalwell apologized for past mistakes and denied the allegations. More than 50 former staffers and several Democratic colleagues urged him to resign from Congress. The Manhattan district attorney and DHS/USCIS have opened inquiries, and some lawmakers said they would support an expulsion vote if he does not step down.
Rep. Eric Swalwell Suspends California Governor Campaign Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
FILE PHOTO: California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell speaks during the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco, California, U.S., February 21, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss
NEW YORK, April 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell announced on Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for governor of California as he faces allegations of sexual assault and mounting calls from colleagues and former staffers to resign from Congress.
In a post on X, Swalwell wrote: "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." He did not address the calls for him to leave Congress. Swalwell has denied the accusations, calling them "absolutely false."
The decision came two days after reporting by The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN that a former district office employee accused Swalwell of two nonconsensual sexual encounters. CNN also reported three other women have made sexual‑misconduct allegations against the congressman, who has represented a California district in the U.S. House since 2013.
More than 50 of Swalwell's former staffers published an open letter calling for him to resign from both Congress and the gubernatorial race, describing the allegations as "serious and credible." Several prominent Democrats, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Eugene Vindman, publicly urged Swalwell to step down.
Separately, the Manhattan district attorney's office confirmed it is investigating the sexual assault allegations. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, said it has referred an inquiry into allegations that Swalwell illegally employed a Brazilian nanny to DHS law enforcement for investigation.
The controversy has raised the prospect of congressional disciplinary action. Some lawmakers have said they would support a motion to expel Swalwell if he does not resign. Representative Anna Paulina Luna said she plans to file an expulsion motion, and Representative Byron Donalds and others said they would vote to expel Swalwell if a vote were brought to the floor.
Observers have compared the situation to other members of Congress facing ethics probes, including Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who faces her own potential expulsion vote after a House panel found ethics violations and a grand jury indicted her last year. Some Democrats have also pointed to Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, under House investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, as another member who should face accountability.
Under California's open primary system, the top two finishers in the June 2 primary advance to the November general election regardless of party. Other Democratic contenders in the governor's race include former Representative Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington, Luc Cohen in New York and Renee Hickman in Chicago; Editing by Aurora Ellis, Sergio Non and Chris Reese)
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