BREAKING: Eric Swalwell Announces Decision On Political Future

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced Saturday evening that he will be suspending his California gubernatorial campaign after leading the Democratic Party field for several months. The announcement comes after several allegations of sexual misconduct — including sexual assault — have been levied against Swalwell in recent days.

“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,” Swalwell announced in an X post.

The allegations surfaced publicly on April 10 and 11 through reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. A former staffer who worked in Swalwell’s congressional office from 2019 to 2021 alleged that she had sexual encounters with him during her employment and that he sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent.

Eric Swalwell suspends his campaign for governor amid sexual assault allegations: pic.twitter.com/y2TZT52iLV

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 13, 2026

One of the alleged assaults took place in a New York City hotel room. That allegation is currently being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

CNN separately reported accusations from three additional women who described sexual advances by Swalwell and said he sent them explicit photos and messages.

Swalwell has denied any criminal wrongdoing and has suggested that he will be pursuing legal action against his accusers. Swalwell has described all the claims as “false” and stated that they emerged “on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor.”

Prior to the allegations, Swalwell had been the leading candidate in the Democratic field for the open governor’s seat. Recent polls, including one from Emerson College in March 2026, showed him ahead of other contenders in the June primary to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.

His name recognition as a longtime member of Congress, combined with endorsements from major labor unions and the formation of a supportive super PAC, had positioned him as the frontrunner in a competitive but fragmented primary.

Ultimately, the suspension followed a near total collapse of the campaign. The congressman had lost all of his most coveted endorsements — including those from all members of congress — while dozens of staffers resigned and called for him to withdraw from the race.

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