Eric Swalwell endorsements withdrawn: List grows as campaign collapses

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell’s bid for California governor continues to be plagued by an exodus of staffers and supporters, following a series of sexual misconduct allegations against the congressman.

Since the allegations first emerged this week, multiple campaign aides have resigned and nearly every endorsement has been rescinded, with several leading Democratic figures calling for him to drop out of the race.

Swalwell has called the allegations against him “flat false,” and alleged that these were timed to disrupt his campaign.

Newsweek contacted the campaign via email outside of regular working hours for comment.

Why It Matters

Before the allegations against Swalwell came to light, weeks before ballots were set to reach voters, the East Bay congressman was among the front-runners in the wide-open race to replace the term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.

What To Know

The campaign’s troubles follow reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle that an unidentified former staffer accused Swalwell of having sexual encounters with her while she worked for him and of sexually assaulting her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent.

Later Friday, CNN reported that a former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her on two occasion, allegations he has denied. Three other women also told CNN they experienced separate instances of alleged sexual misconduct by the congressman, including unsolicited explicit messages and inappropriate physical contact.

Top aides left the campaign before the Chronicle story was published. Soon afterward, Representative Jimmy Gomez, a Demorat, announced that he was stepping down from the campaign and urged Swalwell to exit the race, a call echoed by fellow campaign co-chair Representative Adam Gray.

“Given these serious allegations, I am withdrawing my support and Eric Swalwell should end his campaign immediately,” Gray wrote on X.

According to Axios, Swalwell lost the last of the 21 congressional endorsements on Saturday when Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva announced on social media that she was retracting her support.

State legislators such as Patrick Ahrens and local officials like Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis have also withdrawn their previous endorsements, as have several labor unions including the California Teachers Association, California Professional Firefighters and the California Medical Association.

According to available reporting, the only endorsements that have not been retracted are from the businessman Stephen Cloobeck, a former candidate for California governor, and the California Conference of Machinists. Newsweek has contacted the latter via the website of its affiliated union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Newsweek was unable to contact Cloobeck.

Meanwhile, several leading Democratic figures are urging Swalwell to end his bid for governor, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

What People Are Saying

Eric Swalwell, in a statement to CNN, said: “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public—as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a Democrat, posted to X on Friday: “Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed. I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired. I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Swalwell, effective immediately.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, said in a joint statement released Friday: “Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next governor. This is unacceptable of anyone—certainly not an elected official—and must be taken seriously.”

What Happens Next

Swalwell has not dropped out of the race, though Axios reports that his ActBlue fundraising page and the endorsement tab on his website have been taken down.

On Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that it would be opening an investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Swalwell, and Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna announced that she would be filing a motion to expel him from Congress.