Eric Swalwell quits California governor race amid sexual misconduct claims

April 13, 2026

California Congressman Eric Swalwell has withdrawn from the state's gubernatorial race after four women accused him of sexual misconduct, including harassment and rape allegations. The accusations, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, involved claims from a former staffer who described inappropriate solicitations and two alleged incidents where she experienced memory loss and woke with signs of trauma. Following the allegations' publication, prominent Democratic supporters including Senator Adam Schiff and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries quickly withdrew their backing.

Who is affected

Eric Swalwell (candidate who dropped out)
Four women accusers who worked for Swalwell
Swalwell's family, staff, friends, and campaign supporters
Senator Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (withdrawn supporters)
California voters in the gubernatorial race
Other Democratic and Republican candidates in the primary race
Outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom (being replaced)

What action is being taken

Swalwell is suspending his gubernatorial campaign
Swalwell's legal team is sending cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers
Swalwell is vowing to defend himself with facts and bring legal action where necessary

Why it matters

This matters because Swalwell was projected as a frontrunner among Democratic candidates for governor of California, the nation's most populous state. His withdrawal from the race occurs at a pivotal moment just weeks before voters receive postal ballots for the June 2nd primary election. The departure significantly reshapes the wide-open Democratic primary field, where multiple candidates have already split the liberal vote, potentially allowing two Republicans to advance to the general election in this heavily Democratic state.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC