Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his California gubernatorial campaign Sunday night after facing mounting pressure from party colleagues over sexual assault allegations from multiple women.
The 45-year-old lawmaker had been leading the Democratic field to replace Governor Gavin Newsom before reports emerged Friday detailing accusations from a former staffer and three other women spanning incidents between 2019 and 2025.
I am suspending my campaign for Governor. 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.
Eric Swalwell — X post
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a former district office staffer accused Swalwell of two non-consensual sexual encounters. The woman alleged inappropriate comments and sexual messages began shortly after her hiring, culminating in incidents where she woke up naked in his hotel room with little memory of the previous night.
CNN separately published accounts from three additional women who worked for Swalwell, describing misconduct ranging from unsolicited nude photos to unwanted physical advances while intoxicated. At least three accusers received cease-and-desist letters from Swalwell's legal team threatening legal action if they did not retract their statements.
NPR frames this as a straightforward political consequence story, emphasizing the procedural aspects of campaign suspension and party response. Their coverage focuses on the institutional Democratic Party's swift distancing from Swalwell rather than dwelling on allegation details, reflecting American media's tendency to treat sexual misconduct as primarily a political liability issue.