Eric Swalwell resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations, disrupting California governor race
Consensus Summary
Eric Swalwell, the Democratic frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race, suspended his campaign on April 14, 2026, after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. A former staffer alleged he assaulted her twice while she was intoxicated, and three other women claimed he sent unsolicited explicit messages. Swalwell denied all allegations, calling them false, but faced immediate backlash, including the withdrawal of endorsements from prominent Democrats like Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego. The California Teachers Association also suspended support for his campaign. Facing bipartisan calls for expulsion from Congress, Swalwell resigned on April 15, 2026, alongside Republican Tony Gonzales, who admitted to an affair with a staffer. The Department of Justice and local law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles sheriff’s office and Manhattan DA, opened investigations into the allegations. Swalwell’s sudden exit has thrown the California governor race into disarray, with the top two candidates in the June 2 jungle primary advancing to November regardless of party. Early polls showed Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco leading, with Democrats Katie Porter and Tom Steyer vying for Swalwell’s supporters. Analysts warn the fractured Democratic field could allow Republicans to advance, though most believe a Democrat will ultimately win due to California’s voter base. Swalwell’s resignation also triggered a broader conversation about accountability for powerful men accused of misconduct, with calls for Congress to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Eric Swalwell suspended his California governor campaign on April 14, 2026, after sexual assault allegations emerged.
- Swalwell resigned from Congress on April 15, 2026, amid bipartisan calls for expulsion over sexual misconduct allegations.
- A former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice while intoxicated, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle (April 11, 2026) and CNN.
- Three other women accused Swalwell of sending unsolicited explicit messages or photos, according to CNN.
- Swalwell denied all allegations, calling them 'false' and 'a calculated political hit job,' per multiple Guardian articles.
- The California gubernatorial primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with ballots mailed early May.
- California’s 'jungle primary' system means the top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party.
- Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco led early polls in the governor race, with Hilton endorsed by Donald Trump.
- Swalwell’s lawyer, Sara Azari, stated he 'categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation' in multiple Guardian articles.
- The Department of Justice opened an investigation into Swalwell on April 17, 2026, following his resignation.
- The Los Angeles sheriff’s office and Manhattan DA’s office are investigating separate sexual assault allegations against Swalwell.
- Swalwell’s resignation came after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into his conduct.
- Tony Gonzales, a Republican congressman, also resigned on April 15, 2026, amid an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
- Swalwell’s campaign co-chairs, Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, resigned after the allegations surfaced.
- The California Teachers Association suspended support for Swalwell’s campaign.
- Swalwell’s name remains on the June 2 primary ballot despite his suspension.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Swalwell’s resignation was preceded by a Department of Homeland Security investigation into allegations he hired a Brazilian nanny without work authorization, per a complaint by filmmaker Joel Gilbert.
- A lawyer for Lonna Drewes, who accused Swalwell of drugging and raping her in 2018, called his resignation 'short of accountability' and said she planned to file a police report.
- The Manhattan DA’s office opened an investigation into a sexual assault allegation against Swalwell.
- Swalwell’s attorney threatened to sue one of his accusers, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Swalwell’s former staffer was 21 when the alleged assaults occurred in 2019.
- Swalwell apologized for 'mistakes in judgment' in a private matter with his wife, per a video statement.
- The California Democratic Party chair, Rusty Hicks, urged candidates to 'honestly assess' their viability after Swalwell’s exit.
- A poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies (March 2026) showed Swalwell and Katie Porter each at 13%, followed by Tom Steyer at 10%. Republicans Hilton and Bianco led with 17% and 16%, respectively.
- Swalwell’s campaign sent cease-and-desist letters to accusers, calling their accounts 'false'.
- The House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Swalwell did not indicate a violation had occurred, per a statement.
- Swalwell’s resignation came after bipartisan calls for expulsion, with Democrats Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, and Teresa Leger Fernández supporting his removal.
- Republican Anna Paulina Luna filed a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress.
- Swalwell’s resignation was announced at 2 PM ET on April 15, 2026, while Gonzales’s resignation took effect at 11:59 PM ET the same day.
- The US House has expelled only six members in its 237-year history, with George Santos being the most recent in 2023.
- Swalwell’s accuser Lonna Drewes said he choked her and she 'lost consciousness' during the 2018 incident.
- Swalwell’s lawyer described the allegations as 'fabricated' and 'deeply offensive'.
- The California Democratic field includes Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Tony Thurmond, Matt Mahan, and Betty Yee.
- Swalwell’s resignation followed a social media post where he apologized for 'mistakes in judgment' and denied the allegations.
- Swalwell’s resignation was announced in a social media post where he apologized for 'mistakes in judgment' and stated he would 'fight the serious false allegations.'
- The House Ethics Committee began an investigation into Swalwell’s conduct on April 14, 2026, the day he suspended his campaign.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian reports Swalwell resigned at 2 PM ET on April 15, 2026, while ABC does not specify the exact time of his resignation announcement.
- The Guardian states Swalwell’s lawyer threatened to sue one of his accusers, but ABC does not mention this detail.
- The Guardian includes a specific quote from Swalwell’s lawyer calling the allegations 'fabricated and deeply offensive,' while ABC does not provide this quote.
- The Guardian reports that Swalwell’s former staffer was 21 when the alleged assaults occurred, but ABC does not specify her age.
- The Guardian mentions that Swalwell’s campaign sent cease-and-desist letters to accusers, but ABC does not reference this.
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