{"id":262019,"date":"2026-04-11T01:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T01:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262019\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T01:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T01:41:08","slug":"eric-swalwells-ca-gubernatorial-bid-in-tatters-amid-rape-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262019\/","title":{"rendered":"Eric Swalwell’s CA Gubernatorial Bid In Tatters Amid Rape Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tAccusations of rape and other misconduct against Congressman Eric Swalwell<\/a> (D-CA) has thrown California\u2019s already chaotic California gubernatorial\u00a0race into unknown territory with influential politicians calling on Swalwell to drop out ASAP. <\/p>\n

\n\tFour women, including an ex-staffer for the Bay Area representative who says Swalwell raped her tow years ago, alleged attacks and unwelcomed explicit\u00a0communications, according to reports today by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. The former staffer has said she previously had \u00a0nonconsensual\u00a0sex with Swalwell in 2019 after a night of drinking. That first encounter was when the woman was on his Congressman\u2019s team. The alleged 2024 rape was when the woman, who stopped working for the Congressman in 2021, was no longer in Swalwell\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\n\tOccurring over a number of years and up to quite recently, the 2024 rape claim has seen some other contenders to replace Gavin Newson, the Golden State\u2019s Senators and Swalwell\u2019s political mentor call on cable news regular Congressman to drop out. \u201cTo the survivor who risked everything to come forward \u2013 I believe you,\u201d San Joes Mayor and fellow Democratic candidate Matt Mahan said Friday as the claims \u201cTo the Democratic Party \u2013 you\u2019d better hold him accountable. If we don\u2019t, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAs we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously,\u201d said Gov. Newsom of Swalwell and the revelations. <\/p>\n

\n\tSwalwell put out a statement denying the claims: \u201cThese allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public \u2014 as a prosecutor and a congressman \u2013 \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPerhaps more importantly personally and poltically to Swalwell, ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi<\/a> and California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff<\/a> have all called on the long time Congressman to end his campaign. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI have read the San Francisco Chronicle\u2019s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,\u201d Sen. Schiff declared today. of the rape claimed by the former Swalwell staff. \u201cThis woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.\u201d In his own remarks on the matter, Padilla said Friday: \u201cThese allegations are deeply serious and warrant a full investigation. Survivors deserve to be heard and treated with dignity and respect. Given the gravity of these claims, Rep. Eric Swalwell should step aside to ensure a full, transparent investigation free from undue influence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLosing the still powerful and influential Pelosi, as well as the Senators will certainly hit Swalwell hard with his base as well as donors. \u201cMaybe he could survive this, but I don\u2019t see how,\u201d a prominent Hollywood producer who has written big checks to Dems over the years told Deadline today as the allegations came out. \u201cThere were a lot of stories around Eric before, this kills his campaign. He\u2019s toast.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tAlready, Swalwell\u2019s own campaign chair has resigned and said the candidate must drop out. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cToday I learned shocking information about Eric Swalwell containing the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable,\u201d Rep. Jimmy Gomez said today. \u201cMy involvement in any campaign begins and ends with trust. I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately. The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tin another big blow to the candidate\u2019s bottom line and get out the vote efforts, the California Teachers Association have withdrawn their support of Swalwell.<\/p>\n

The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell. We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union\u2019s democratic process to determine next steps.<\/p>\n

\u2014 California Teachers Association (@WeAreCTA) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

CTA\u2019s democratically elected board has voted unanimously to rescind our endorsement of Representative Eric Swalwell in his campaign for Governor of California. We withdraw all support.<\/p>\n

\u2014 California Teachers Association (@WeAreCTA) April 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tA constant foil to Donald Trump<\/a>, Swalwell, who has been hit hard by rivals over his noticeable absences from House votes over the years since he first arrived on Capital Hill in 2013, got into the California governor\u2019s race back in November. <\/p>\n

\n\tFollowing in the tradition of Arnold \u00a0Schwarzenegger Swalwell went late night to make his bid official<\/a> and announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live<\/a>! Some polls have had him in the lead with the support of around 15% of likely voters going into the June 2 primary. Due in no small part to the swath of Dems like Mahan, ex-Rep Katie Porter, ex-LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and \u00a0billionaire and onetime POTUS candidate Tom Steyer, other polls have had Republicans ex-UK Prime Minister aide and Fox News talking head Steve Hilton, who Trump has endorsed, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in the top spots. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe accusations against Swalwell would usually be covered wall-to-wall on cable news, but the successful splashdown of NASA\u2019s Artemis II dominated CNN, MS Now, Fox News and the BBC this evening.<\/p>\n

\n\tStill, while Swalwell\u2019s fate wasn\u2019t making the headlines today, the head of California\u2019s Democrats weighed in on the situation. Rusty Hicks didn\u2019t directly call on Swalwell to drop out of the race to rule over the world\u2019s 4th largest economy from Sacramento, but he also didn\u2019t encourage Swalwell tin anyway to stay. <\/p>\n

\n\t Maybe, as we wait and see if the ex-VP is going to run for POTUS in 2028, some top Democrat should give Kamala Harris<\/a> a call and get her to reconsider her 2025 decision <\/a>to not run for California\u2019s top job. <\/p>\n