Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democratic front-runner in the hotly contested California governor\u2019s race, is facing mounting calls to drop out of the contest after he was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by a former staff member and other women in reports published on Friday.<\/p>\n
A woman who worked for the Northern California congressman said they had a consensual relationship at times, but that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too inebriated to consent, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.<\/a> Three other women also have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited nude photos, according to CNN.<\/a><\/p>\n The allegations have Swalwell\u2019s campaign teetering on collapse, with powerful labor organizations and other major supporters pulling their endorsements and canceling political ads promoting the once-promising candidate. Prominent Democrats \u2014 including U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter \u2014 are among the politicians who called on him to drop out of the race. <\/p>\n Swalwell had been gaining traction in the race and the controversy completely upends the race just as voters are starting to pay attention.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like a bomb went off,\u201d said Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist who runs the research nonprofit Latino Working Class Project.<\/p>\n Swalwell\u2019s staff member was 21 years old when she started working for the congressman, who is nearly two decades her senior. She said she did not report the incidents to police because of fears she would not be believed and professional repercussions. <\/p>\n \u201cI have no skin in the game of who becomes governor of California, but I feel people have a right to know whether the person who leads a state that is a safe haven for so many women actually treats women with dignity and will protect their rights,\u201d the woman, who was not identified because she is the alleged victim of sexual assault, told the Chronicle. \u201cNo one protected me from him, and so I have to protect the other young women like me who aspire to work in this field and he could prey upon.\u201d<\/p>\n Swalwell, who is married with three young children, on Friday called accusations of inappropriate behavior \u201cflat [out] false,\u201d while also acknowledging poor behavior.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I am a saint,\u201d he said in a video posted on Intagram Friday night. \u201cI\u2019ve certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n He also noted that the allegations emerged shortly before the gubernatorial primary, in which he is a front-runner. Earlier in the day, Swalwell said in a statement that he would full-throatedly defend himself \u201cand where necessary bring legal action.\u201d<\/p>\n Billionaire Tom Steyer, State Supt. Tony Thurmond, Becerra, San Jos\u00e9 Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Controller Betty Yee and Porter, other Democrats running for governor, called on Swalwell to exit the race. Swalwell\u2019s Republican detractors also pounced, including GOP gubernatorial candidates Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. <\/p>\n Multiple people working for Swalwell\u2019s campaign resigned this week as the allegations began to surface, according to a source close to the candidate who was not authorized to speak about the matter.<\/p>\n Others, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, did not call on Swalwell to drop out but publicly weighed in on the gravity of the women\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Allegations of inappropriate behavior by the congressman have been circulating on social media and in political circles for weeks. On Thursday, an attorney representing Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter<\/a> to at least one person demanding that they stop accusing the congressman of sexual assault.<\/p>\n Two days earlier, the congressman denounced online claims<\/a> that he had inappropriate relationships with young congressional staff members.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s false,\u201d he told reporters after a town hall in Sacramento, adding that he never behaved inappropriately with female staff members or had a sexual relationship with a staff member or an intern. He also denied allegations that his staff members were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements or entered into legal settlements.<\/p>\n But on Friday, after the allegations were reported, signs emerged suggesting Swalwell may be pondering the future of his campaign. Websites listing his endorsements and his fundraising portal for small-dollar donors were taken down.<\/p>\n Swalwell did not respond to a request for comment about whether he planned to drop out of the race.<\/p>\n After the former staff member\u2019s allegations were published by the Chronicle, CNN published reports of three other women alleging misconduct.<\/p>\n In 2025, another woman said after drinking with Swalwell, she ended up in his hotel room without recollection of how she got there and that her memory of what happened is \u201ca blur,\u201d according to CNN. Two other women told the cable network\u2019s reporters that the congressman sent them unsolicited photos of his penis and other sexual messages through the messaging service Snapchat.<\/p>\n The allegations come at a pivotal time in the race to replace Newsom, who is termed-out. The primary is June 2, but ballots start landing in voters\u2019 mailboxes in less than a month.<\/p>\n The race to lead the nation\u2019s largest state remains up for grabs, with eight prominent Democrats and two top Republicans jockeying to finish in first or second place in the primary and advance to the November election. <\/p>\n