U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor of California after multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations triggered a rapid political backlash, reshaping one of the country’s most closely watched gubernatorial races just weeks before the primary. Reuters reported that Swalwell announced the suspension on Saturday as pressure mounted from fellow Democrats, former staffers and political allies who had previously backed his candidacy.
The collapse was abrupt because Swalwell had entered the race as one of the better-known Democrats in a crowded field. But that standing unraveled after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations from a former staff member and other women accusing him of sexual assault and other misconduct. Reuters said Swalwell has denied the accusations as “absolutely false,” while acknowledging unspecified past mistakes in judgment and saying he would fight the claims outside the campaign.
The legal and political consequences expanded almost immediately. Reuters reported that the Manhattan district attorney’s office is investigating one of the allegations, while more than 50 former Swalwell staffers signed a public letter urging him to resign from Congress. Several Democratic lawmakers, including some from California, also called on him to step down, and there has been discussion in the House about a possible expulsion effort.
Swalwell’s exit is likely to alter the dynamics of the 2026 California governor’s race because the state uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates compete on the same ballot and only the top two vote-getters advance, regardless of party. The Associated Press reported that his departure could intensify competition among the remaining Democrats for his supporters while also increasing anxiety within the party about vote-splitting in a race that still lacks a clear dominant front-runner. Remaining prominent candidates include Democrats Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Antonio Villaraigosa, along with Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
One important practical detail is that suspending a campaign does not fully erase his presence from the race. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that because withdrawal deadlines have passed, Swalwell’s name is still expected to remain on the ballot even though he has stopped actively campaigning. The same report said his decision to run for governor had already meant giving up a bid for re-election to his House seat, leaving his political future deeply uncertain.
The suspension therefore does more than remove one candidate. It throws California’s governor contest into a more fluid and unpredictable phase while leaving unanswered questions about Swalwell’s future in Congress and the legal investigations now surrounding him
