California Congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell made the announcement on April 12 via a statement on the social platform X, apologizing for past lapses in judgment but denying the allegations, which he called "serious" and "false." He emphasized that he would fight the accusations personally but clarified that the matter was not one for his campaign.

The allegations first surfaced publicly late last week, with reports that a woman who previously worked in Swalwell’s district office accused him of two non-consensual sexual encounters. Additional women have since come forward with similar accusations, all of which Swalwell has denied. Following these reports, several prominent Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whip Katherine Clark, and caucus chair Pete Aguilar, urged Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also advised him to step aside from the race, emphasizing the need for a transparent and accountable investigation.

Other Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, and Eugene Vindman, have gone further, calling for Swalwell’s resignation from Congress. An open letter signed by more than 50 of Swalwell’s current and former staffers labeled the allegations "serious and credible" and echoed the call for him to withdraw from the race and resign.

In addition to the sexual misconduct allegations, Swalwell is under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for an alleged assault that reportedly occurred in New York City in 2024. The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is also investigating claims that Swalwell illegally employed a Brazilian nanny, a matter that has been referred to law enforcement.

Swalwell, 45, has represented a Northern California congressional district near Oakland since 2012. Previously a prosecutor in Alameda County, he gained national visibility as a House manager during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. This year, Swalwell was considered one of the leading Democratic candidates in a wide-open contest to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. The primary, scheduled for June 2, includes more than 50 candidates from both parties, and with Swalwell’s campaign suspended but his name remaining on the ballot, his former supporters are now seen as a key prize for rival contenders.

Leading Democrats such as Katie Porter and Tom Steyer have actively sought to court Swalwell’s backers in the race, which remains fluid with no clear front-runner. Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta noted that Swalwell’s support base is likely to disperse among several other candidates.

The investigations and allegations have cast uncertainty over what was once a high-profile gubernatorial campaign, shifting attention to how the sexual misconduct claims and other inquiries will affect California’s crowded race for governor.