Updated on: April 11, 2026 / 4:35 PM EDT / CBS News California
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include new developments, including women coming forward with specific allegations referenced in earlier reporting and calls from Democratic leaders for Rep. Eric Swalwell to step down.
The influencer publicly tied to allegations against gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell has academic and political connections to UC Irvine Law professor and rival candidate Katie Porter, but Porter’s campaign says the two “don’t have a relationship to speak of.”
Some of the women the influencer, Cheyenne Hunt, had been alluding to on social media began to come forward publicly with more specific allegations last week. Democratic leaders have since urged Swalwell to exit the governor’s race. Swalwell has denied allegations of inappropriate behavior with female staffers, and several staff members have reportedly left his campaign.
Swalwell’s campaign previously suggested the allegations were being amplified by online influencers linked to political opponents. Several news outlets noted social media posts showing interactions between Hunt and Porter.
Hunt is a self-described progressive activist with a law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law — the same law school where Porter is a longtime professor. CBS News California investigated the connection and reached out to both Hunt and Porter for clarification.
Timeline and connections
– Hunt enrolled at UC Irvine School of Law in fall 2018, while Porter was running for Congress. Porter remained formally affiliated with the law school while serving in Congress and continued living on campus while on leave from teaching.
– While Hunt was part of UCI Law’s Washington externship pipeline, she interned on Capitol Hill for a Democratic senator in 2020, during Porter’s time in the House.
– In 2021, Porter delivered the UC Irvine law commencement address at the ceremony where Hunt graduated.
– In 2024, Hunt ran for a neighboring Orange County congressional seat and posted a photograph with Porter on social media, calling her a trailblazer.
Porter’s response
Peter Opitz, a Porter campaign spokesperson, said in an email, “They don’t have a relationship to speak of. In fact, Katie endorsed a different candidate when she was running in a neighboring district.”
On CNN, Porter said she had “seen allegations coming from women staffers” about Swalwell that were “very, very troubling” and said those women should feel safe and supported if they choose to come forward. When asked if she had seen evidence, Porter said she had not spoken to women planning to come forward and emphasized focusing on protecting people who report harassment or assault.
CNN noted it had not independently confirmed allegations of misconduct and pointed out Porter used the term “sexual assault,” which had not been specifically alleged at the time.
Swalwell campaign response
Micah Beasley, a spokesman for Swalwell’s campaign, called the reports a “false, outrageous rumor” being spread by opponents “teaming up with MAGA conspiracy theorists” and noted that no ethics complaints had ever been filed against Swalwell in his 13 years in office.
Hunt’s role and public posts
Hunt — a lawyer, former congressional candidate, and executive director of Gen-Z for Change — posted in March that she was working with multiple women preparing to come forward with allegations involving Swalwell, without identifying any women or offering specifics. CBS News California reached out to Hunt multiple times but had not received a response.
Correction
A previous version of this story misstated that Hunt ran for Porter’s congressional seat in 2024. Hunt ran for a neighboring Orange County district, CA-45; Porter previously represented CA-45 before redistricting renumbered it as CA-47.
In: Julie Watts Investigates; CBS California Investigates; California Governor’s Race