{"id":262356,"date":"2026-04-11T07:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T07:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262356\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T07:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T07:11:09","slug":"allies-yank-support-for-swalwells-california-governor-run-after-sexual-assault-allegations-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262356\/","title":{"rendered":"Allies yank support for Swalwell’s California governor run after sexual assault allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"

SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2013 In a stunning political reversal, prominent supporters of Rep. Eric Swalwell\u2019s<\/a> campaign for California governor withdrew their support Friday after the congressman denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.<\/p>\n

Swalwell did not immediately heed those calls, saying on social media that he would spend the weekend with family and friends and share an update \u201cvery soon.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThese 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Swalwell was among the leading Democrats in the race<\/a> to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. But in just hours, he saw his most prominent supporters \u2014 including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff<\/a> and powerful labor unions \u2014 drop their endorsements and call for his exit from the race. <\/p>\n

Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate who has avoided engaging in the contest to replace him, said in a statement: \u201cAs we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn\u2019t endorsed in the race, said the \u201cserious allegations\u201d must be investigated and that she spoke to Swalwell and suggested that be done \u201coutside of a gubernatorial campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign<\/a> to lead the nation\u2019s most populous state. Voters will receive mail ballots next month in advance of the June 2 election. <\/p>\n

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday<\/a> that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people whom she had told about it. She told the newspaper she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed. <\/p>\n

The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019, when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity gala, the newspaper reported. She said in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.<\/p>\n

The paper didn\u2019t name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment. <\/p>\n

Swift backlash from prominent Democrats<\/p>\n

Schiff said in a social media post he’s \u201cdeeply distressed\u201d by the allegations, calling for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid.<\/p>\n

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who helped run Swalwell\u2019s campaign, said he\u2019s immediately ending his role.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay,\u201d Gomez said on social media. <\/p>\n

Powerful labor unions, including the California Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association, said they’re suspending their support. The California Federation of Labor Unions said it\u2019s \u201cacting urgently\u201d on next steps. <\/p>\n

A spokesperson for House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the allegations require a \u201cserious and thorough investigation.\u201d <\/p>\n

Growing calls for Swalwell to drop out<\/p>\n

Swalwell is among a handful of prominent candidates in the crowded race to succeed Newsom, and he immediately came under pressure from all other Democratic rivals to withdraw from the race. The party has been mired in a messy primary season with some leaders fearing the crowded field could cost them spot in the November general election. The state’s top-two primary system sends the two highest vote getters onto the general election regardless of party.<\/p>\n

Swalwell on Tuesday kicked off a planned series of campaign events in Sacramento, where he told reporters he\u2019s never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern. He canceled the next scheduled event in Palm Springs on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Uncorroborated and nonspecific rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female staffers have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle’s story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. CNN also reported that several women accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate sexual messages.<\/p>\n

He’s suggested the allegations were part of an attack due to his campaign\u2019s momentum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Swalwell was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run<\/a> in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. Swalwell, who is married and has three children, is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump\u2019s second impeachment trial<\/a> during his first term in early 2021.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Blood reported from Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2013 In a stunning political reversal, prominent supporters of Rep. Eric Swalwell\u2019s campaign for California governor…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262357,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[17419,9984,7,9,8,115115,536,989,115097,24115,457,115114,80028,82976,8669,13,115113,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-262356","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-california","8":"tag-adam-gray","9":"tag-adam-schiff","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-california-headlines","12":"tag-california-news","13":"tag-christie-stephenson","14":"tag-donald-trump","15":"tag-elections","16":"tag-elias-debaie","17":"tag-eric-swalwell","18":"tag-gavin-newsom","19":"tag-hakeem-jeffries","20":"tag-jimmy-gomez","21":"tag-mark-ramos","22":"tag-nancy-pelosi","23":"tag-politics","24":"tag-ruben-gallego","25":"tag-u-s-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262356\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}