Swalwell Faces Pressure in Governor’s Race After Sexual Assault Allegations

Democratic Congressman and California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell is facing increasing pressure to withdraw from the governor’s race following sexual assault allegations reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the report, a former female staffer alleges she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell in 2019 while intoxicated. Swalwell has strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and stating he intends to defend himself with evidence and, if necessary, pursue legal action.

The controversy comes at a critical moment in the campaign, as Swalwell had previously secured strong establishment support. However, several key endorsements have since been withdrawn, and multiple senior campaign staff members, including a top consultant, reportedly resigned shortly before the allegations were made public.

Swalwell’s campaign has also faced disruptions on the trail. He canceled a scheduled town hall in Palm Desert and withdrew from a planned interview with NBC Palm Springs.

As the gubernatorial race continues to develop, the allegations and resulting political fallout are adding new uncertainty to an already competitive field.