Washington — House Democratic leadership on Friday called on Rep. Eric Swalwell to drop out of the race for California governor after a former staffer alleged he sexually assaulted her. Swalwell denied the allegations, calling them “false.”
In a statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called for a “swift investigation” and for Swalwell to immediately end his campaign, saying the accusations “must be taken seriously” and that “all perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.” They stopped short of urging him to resign from Congress.
Swalwell said the claims “come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor” and vowed to fight them. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women,” he said, adding his focus would be on his family and defending his record. Swalwell also threatened legal action against the woman, whose account was published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The woman, who was not named, told the Chronicle Swalwell began pursuing her shortly after she was hired in his Castro Valley district office in 2019. She alleged he sent inappropriate photos via Snapchat, requested nude photos, and asked her to perform oral sex in a parking lot. She said that after going out for drinks with Swalwell in September 2019 she woke up naked in his hotel bed with little recollection of the night.
She also alleged a separate incident in 2024, when she no longer worked for Swalwell, after meeting him for drinks following a charity gala in New York. She said she became intoxicated, remembers pushing him away and telling him “no” while he forced himself on her, and woke the next morning with vaginal bleeding and bruises. The Chronicle reported it reviewed texts the woman sent to a friend three days after the alleged 2024 incident in which she wrote she was “sexually assaulted.” The woman told the paper she had earlier convinced herself she was an equal party in a 2019 encounter despite blacking out.
The Chronicle also spoke with the man who was the woman’s boyfriend at the time of the 2024 incident; he said he encouraged her to report Swalwell to police, but she did not because she had showered and feared an examination would not find evidence.
In a follow-up video posted Friday, Swalwell said he would fight the allegations “with everything that I have.” He acknowledged he had “made mistakes in judgment,” apologized to his wife, and asked supporters to remember who he is.
Several Democrats who had backed Swalwell withdrew their support. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a campaign chair for Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, called the information “shocking” and urged Swalwell to leave the race “so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay,” saying he was cutting ties with the campaign. Sens. Ruben Gallego and Adam Schiff, and Rep. Ted Lieu, all withdrew endorsements. “What is described is indefensible,” Gallego said, adding that women who come forward deserve to be heard. Schiff said he was “deeply distressed” and called on Swalwell to withdraw.
Rep. Robert Garcia said Swalwell “must leave the Governor’s race immediately.” Sen. Alex Padilla said Swalwell should step aside “to ensure a full, transparent investigation free from undue influence.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the matter “must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability” and that it is “best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” The California Teachers Association also said the allegations were “incredibly disturbing and unacceptable.”