Swalwell Drops California Governor Bid Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell ended his nearly four-month campaign for California governor on Sunday, following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from four women who formerly worked with him.

Reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published Friday detailed the accusations. Swalwell denied all of them. "These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They're absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have," he said.

The denials weren't enough to hold back the tide. By Sunday morning, 55 of Swalwell's former congressional and campaign staffers had signed a public letter saying they believe the women and calling on him to end his campaign and resign from Congress entirely. USF Professor of Politics James Taylor says Democratic leadership signaled early that the situation was serious. "I said two days ago he had 48 hours, so I expected him not to make it til Monday, because of the way that the Democratic leadership in California, mainly Nancy Pelosi and even Gavin Newsom, who didn't say he should resign but that it should be taken seriously," Taylor said.

Swalwell is not the only congressman facing removal efforts. Republican Representative Byron Donalds of Florida says he will vote to remove both Swalwell and Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales, who faces separate sexual misconduct allegations. "These allegations are despicable and they demean the integrity of Congress," Donalds said.

In the days following the reports, Swalwell was reportedly staying with former California gubernatorial candidate Steve Cloobeck in Southern California. Cloobeck told NBC Los Angeles he could no longer support the campaign but offered Swalwell a place to stay out of concern for his well-being. "I have various people stay at my house and I was very concerned for his mental health. He needed a couple of hugs," Cloobeck said, adding that Swalwell has since left.

The California governor's race remains crowded on the Democratic side, and Taylor warns the party needs to consolidate quickly. "The Democrats are going to have to consolidate now, I think more than before, behind another candidate because Swalwell came out of nowhere," he said. Democrats fear that without rallying around a strong candidate soon, California could see its first Republican governor since 2011.