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By Peter Aitken and Adeola Adeosun
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California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor on Sunday following a wave of sexual misconduct and assault allegations he has denied, saying the fight ahead is his alone to wage.
"I am suspending my campaign for Governor," Swalwell wrote on X Sunday evening. "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."
His statement made no mention of resigning from Congress.
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Why It Matters
Before the allegations emerged Friday, Swalwell was among the front-runners in the wide-open race to replace term-limited Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom. His suspension leaves the Democratic field without one of its most prominent candidates weeks before ballots were set to reach voters.
What To Know
The allegations were first reported this week by the San Francisco Chronicle, which reported that a former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her in 2019, when she worked for him, and again in 2024 at a charity gala — both times when she was too intoxicated to consent. CNN later reported a separate former staffer made similar accusations, with three additional women alleging other instances of misconduct including unsolicited explicit messages and inappropriate physical contact. Swalwell has denied all the allegations, though he has seemingly referenced infidelity in multiple statements, including a Friday video in which he apologized to his wife.
The alleged 2024 incident occurred in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed Saturday it is investigating, urging anyone with knowledge to contact its special victims division.
Since the allegations emerged, Swalwell rapidly lost the support of nearly his entire political network. According to Axios, all 21 of his congressional endorsements were retracted. Major labor unions including the California Teachers Association, California Professional Firefighters, the California Medical Association, and the California State Council of Machinists also pulled their backing. California Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez, who helped run the campaign, said he was immediately ending his role.
With the House returning to session Tuesday, a growing number of Democrats are now calling on Swalwell to resign his congressional seat as well. Representatives Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, Sam Liccardo, Teresa Leger Fernández, and Pramila Jayapal have all called for his resignation, with several saying they would support expelling him should he refuse. Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna said Saturday she would file a motion to begin the expulsion process. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority and is rare, though former New York Republican Representative George Santos was ousted by the House in 2023.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Sunday that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) referred allegations that Swalwell illegally employed a Brazilian nanny without lawful work authorization to law enforcement for investigation, following a report by Politico reporter Daniel Lippman. The probe adds to broader legal pressure on Swalwell, who also faces a separate Justice Department referral for investigation into potential mortgage fraud, which he has condemned as meritless.
What People Are Saying
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, in a joint statement: "Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California's next governor."
Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, via X: "Good first step. Now resign from Congress or face expulsion."
A coalition of 31 California County Democratic Party chairs, in a joint statement: "The accusations that have been levied against Congressman Eric Swalwell are deeply disturbing, they are serious, and they necessitate review and investigation. The brave individuals who have stepped forward must be heard and they must be protected from retaliation and intimidation as they seek justice. During this process, Rep. Swalwell would not be focused on the campaign and he cannot unify our Party. Therefore, we call on Rep. Swalwell to withdraw from the California Governor's Race."
Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, on NBC's Meet the Press: "This is not a partisan issue. This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated."
What Happens Next
With the House returning to session Tuesday, the question of whether to expel Swalwell could come to a head quickly. Republican Representative Byron Donalds, a candidate for Florida governor, said both Swalwell and Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales — who admitted to an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide — "need to go home."
Swalwell is not running for reelection to his House seat.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Update 4/12/26, 9:39 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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