Several prominent Democratic leaders and organizations have withdrawn their endorsements of Representative Eric Swalwell and called on him to end his campaign for California governor following allegations of sexual assault made by a former staffer and other women.
The political fallout was swift after the accusations surfaced in reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. Within hours, key supporters including Senator Adam Schiff and major labor unions such as the California Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association pulled their backing for Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also urged Swalwell to step aside from the race while calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations.
The accusations include claims by a former congressional staffer who alleged that Swalwell assaulted her twice while she was intoxicated. Additional women have also made allegations of misconduct, according to media reports. Swalwell has strongly denied all accusations, describing them as “flat false” and politically motivated.
The controversy triggered resignations from several campaign staff members and the loss of additional endorsements from Democratic lawmakers and political allies, further weakening what had previously been considered a competitive campaign in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.
Despite mounting pressure from within his party, Swalwell has not announced plans to withdraw from the race. Instead, he said he would spend time with his family and supporters before providing an update on his campaign’s future.
Political analysts say the developments could significantly reshape the Democratic primary field, potentially shifting momentum toward other candidates such as Katie Porter and Tom Steyer as the June primary approaches.
The situation remains fluid as investigations continue and party leaders weigh their next steps ahead of the closely watched gubernatorial contest.
