Swalwell Suspends California Governor Bid Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims

Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday night after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, triggering rapid political isolation, multiple investigations and fresh calls for his resignation from Congress. The announcement caps a precipitous fall for the Democratic congressman who had been the frontrunner to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2027.

In a statement posted to social media, Swalwell expressed regret to his family, staff, friends and supporters for “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in the past.” He described the allegations as “serious, false” and said he would fight them personally rather than burden a political campaign. He did not address his future in the House of Representatives, where growing numbers of colleagues from both parties say he can no longer serve effectively.

The accusations surfaced Friday in coordinated reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. A former staffer told the Chronicle that Swalwell assaulted her twice in 2024 while she was too intoxicated to consent. She said she resisted and was left bruised and bleeding. Three other women reported that Swalwell sent them unsolicited nude photographs or explicit messages. All four accusers described behavior that they said betrayed the trust placed in an employer and elected official.

Swalwell has denied the claims and dispatched cease-and-desist letters. Nevertheless, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed to The Washington Post that it opened an investigation over the weekend. The swift official response reflects the gravity of allegations involving a sitting member of Congress and a former subordinate.

The scandal has accelerated demands that Swalwell leave the House altogether. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, called the campaign suspension a “good first step” but insisted he must resign or face expulsion. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida said she intends to file a motion for expulsion when the House returns to session Tuesday. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority and remains rare, though the chamber did remove Rep. George Santos in 2023 after he was indicted on fraud charges. Several Democrats have also signaled privately that Swalwell’s presence has become untenable.

Further damage came from an unexpected quarter. Billionaire timeshare executive Stephen Cloobeck, a one-time Swalwell supporter, told the New York Post on Sunday that he had evicted the congressman from the Beverly Hills mansion where he had been staying since the allegations broke. Cloobeck said he was withdrawing all support and declared himself a libertarian who no longer backs the Democratic Party. The public break underscored how quickly institutional and personal backing evaporated.

Compounding Swalwell’s difficulties, the Department of Homeland Security disclosed it is investigating whether he illegally employed a Brazilian nanny. According to a complaint received by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in February, Amanda Barbosa, 33, was hired in 2021 to care for Swalwell’s three children. Her work authorization expired in 2022, yet social media photographs show her continuing to interact with the family through 2024. A DHS spokesperson said the allegations are serious, that no employer including a member of Congress stands above the law, and that the matter has been referred for law enforcement investigation.

The breadth of the fallout is striking. Nearly every organization and individual who had endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid withdrew support within 48 hours. The episode arrives at a moment when California confronts persistent problems of homelessness, rising crime in some cities, business flight and the highest state income tax rate in the nation. Voters in the country’s most populous state may now reassess what qualities they require in leaders who ask for their trust at the highest level.

Swalwell, 45, built a national profile through aggressive criticism of Republicans and involvement in high-profile congressional inquiries. Those chapters now compete for attention with questions about his own judgment and accountability. The congressman has not indicated when or how he will respond to the House beyond the campaign suspension. With investigations underway in both Manhattan and by federal immigration authorities, the coming weeks are likely to test whether the consequences he faces remain political or become legal as well.

The speed with which Swalwell’s once-promising campaign collapsed illustrates a recurring reality in American public life: serious allegations involving power, sex and workplace trust can dismantle careers faster than any policy debate. California Democrats must now find a new standard-bearer. Republicans, who have long criticized the state’s one-party dominance, see fresh evidence that even entrenched figures can be held to account when patterns of conduct surface. For now, the focus remains on the women who came forward, the prosecutors examining the evidence, and a congressman who must decide whether to fight on in Washington or finally step aside.