Swalwell exits California governor’s race amid scandal, reshaping Democratic field

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:19:00 +0200

Eric Swalwell has withdrawn from the California governor’s race and announced his resignation from Congress following serious allegations of sexual assault and misconduct involving multiple women. The allegations, which include claims from former staff members and accusations of inappropriate behavior such as sending explicit images, triggered immediate political fallout and prompted calls for his expulsion and a criminal investigation. Swalwell has denied the accusations and said he will fight to clear his name, but his departure has rapidly reshaped the state’s competitive gubernatorial contest.

His exit has left a significant vacuum in the Democratic primary, especially among major donors and political organizations that had previously supported or aligned with him. Many of these backers are now shifting their attention toward remaining candidates, with former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer emerging as the most immediate beneficiaries. Both had been competitive with S