U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Sunday that he is withdrawing from the California governor’s race in the wake of sexual harassment and assault allegations.
Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, was the leading Democratic candidate in the state primary election for governor until the allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer and committed other sexual misconduct.
On Sunday evening, Swalwell posted on X that he was leaving the race.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” he 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.”
On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York announced it was investigating the allegation of sexual assault against Swalwell.
Swalwell, who polled at 17% last month in a field of eight Democrats and two Republicans, called the unnamed woman’s New York allegations “lies.”
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” said Swalwell in a statement released by his campaign.
News of the allegations traveled swiftly, with several of Swalwell’s opponents in the governor’s race calling for him to withdraw immediately this week.
Tony Thurmond, a Democrat who is the state superintendent of public instruction, said, “We must listen to victims who come forward.”
“Given the gravity of these claims, he cannot continue to serve or maintain the public’s trust,” Thurmond said.
Democrat Betty Yee, former state controller, called the accusations “sickening.”
“He needs to withdraw from the governor’s race and resign from Congress, immediately,” she said in a statement.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, said the allegations were “shocking and reprehensible” and said Swalwell was “unfit” to run for governor.
“Given the gravity of these claims, he cannot continue to serve or maintain the public’s trust.”
Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon called for a “swift, thorough, and transparent investigation” into allegations against Eric Swalwell, saying the accusations “sickened” her.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi also called for Swalwell to drop out of the race.
Two more major labor groups rescinded their endorsements of Swalwell on Saturday, with the California chapter of Service Employees International Union and the California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO calling on him to drop out of the race for governor. The California Teachers Association rescinded its endorsement on Friday.
SEIU California said many of its members had been subjected to workplace sexual harassment in their own lives and voted to take back its endorsement after hearing the allegations that centered on a boss taking advantage of a subordinate.
“As a union predominantly made up of women, SEIU has prioritized fighting for workplaces free of sexual harassment and assault,” the union said in a statement.’
‘Horrified’ staff express alarm, deny support
A statement attributed to Swalwell staff said they were “horrified” by allegations that he sexually assaulted a former employee.
“We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward,” the unsigned statement said. “We believe you should stand with them, too.”
The statement, posted on social media Saturday and attributed to senior staff of California’s 14th Congressional District and Eric Swalwell for Governor 2026, also alluded to reports that several workers had left the congressman’s employ.
“Any decision of staff members to remain in their roles in the interim should not be viewed as support for Eric Swalwell,” the statement said.
“We, more than he, understand that we have obligations to the people we lead and to the constituents of California’s 14th Congressional District. Those of us that remain on staff do so for the sole purpose of ensuring that as many of those obligations are fulfilled as possible.”
Bay City News reporters Pete Young and Thomas Hughes contributed to this report.
