Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) campaign for California governor lost two co-chairs and key endorsements on Friday after the San Francisco Chronicle reported on allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer.
The Chronicle reported that a woman who previously worked for Swalwell alleged that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. The Hill has not independently verified these claims. Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement to the outlet.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell told the Chronicle. The Hill has reached out to his campaign for additional comment.
In the wake of the reporting, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) resigned as co-chair of Swalwell’s campaign and called on the congressman to “leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction or delay.” The other campaign co-chair, Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.), wrote on the social platform X that he is withdrawing his support of Swalwell and urged the gubernatorial candidate to end his campaign.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement posted by her spokesperson on X that the allegations “must be respected and heard.”
“This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability,” she added. “As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who also endorsed his former House colleague, in a statement on X said he was “deeply distressed” about the allegations, adding “I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a longtime Swalwell ally, also withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, describing the allegations in the report as “indefensible.”
The revelations also prompted some groups to withdraw their support for the congressman.
“The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell,” the California Teachers Association wrote in a post on X. “We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process to determine next steps.”
Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for the California Medical Association, said in a statement that the organization had “convened an emergency meeting of our board” and called the allegations “extremely serious.”
According to the Chronicle, the former staffer, who is not named in the story, said Swalwell pursued her when she was 21 years old, shortly after she was hired at his Castro Valley district office in 2019. She described multiple sexual encounters while working for him, and claimed that he assaulted her twice while she was inebriated, in 2019 and again in 2024.
CNN also published a report shortly after the Chronicle on Friday detailing four women who alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct from Swalwell. The Hill has not independently verified these claims, and it’s unclear whether the unnamed staffer in the Chronicle’s reporting overlaps with CNN’s sourcing. Swalwell denied the women’s allegations to CNN.
The Chronicle’s report came after claims circulated on social media this week that multiple women were planning to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the lawmaker.
Cheyenne Hunt, an attorney and former California congressional candidate who is now the executive director of Gen-Z for Change, said on X she has been “working with a number of women who are in the process of coming forward and sharing their stories of sexual harassment and even alleged abuse at the hands of Eric Swalwell.”
“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” a Swalwell campaign spokesperson told The Hill earlier this week, in a statement on the social media claims.
Swalwell is running in a crowded race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in California. Polls showed him nearing the front of the nonpartisan primary in recent weeks, and a recent clash with the Trump administration was seen as a potential political boost for the gubernatorial hopeful.
He faces former Fox News host Steve Hilton (R), Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R), billionaire Tom Steyer (D), former Rep. Katie Porter (D) and others in the June 2 contest.
All candidates will appear on the ballot, and the top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election. The deadline to formally withdraw from the primary has passed — meaning that if Swalwell were to end his bid, his name would still appear on the ballot.
