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California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., talks with reporters after holding a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.<\/p>\n
Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/p>\n
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., listens to a question from the audience during a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.<\/p>\n
Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/p>\n
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.<\/p>\n
Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/p>\n
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., back, poses for a photo with members of the Service Employees International Union after holding a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.<\/p>\n
Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell\u2019s abrupt exit from the race for California governor left his rivals scrambling to lock down his former supporters in a crowded contest with no clear leader, injecting more turmoil into the campaign to lead the nation\u2019s most populous state.<\/p>\n
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Swalwell\u2019s decision to suspend his campaign Sunday followed allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him, that were published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle and later by CNN. While pulling out of the race he remained defiant in a post on the social platform X, saying, \u201cI will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made \u2014 but that\u2019s my fight, not a campaign\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
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For rival candidates in a wide-open race, the key issue is where Swalwell\u2019s supporters will go. He was among the most prominent Democrats in the contest, with mail ballots scheduled to go to voters in early May in advance of the June 2 primary election.<\/p>\n
Katie Porter, one of the leading Democrats, posted a line from a San Francisco Chronicle column on X, “Democrats can pull victory from the jaws of defeat by coalescing around Porter.\u201d Billionaire hedge fund manager-turned-liberal activist Tom Steyer said he secured the support of Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from the San Francisco Bay Area.<\/p>\n
With seven established Democrats and two leading Republicans on a primary ballot with more than 50 candidates, the race remains fluid. While Swalwell has suspended his campaign, his name cannot be removed from the ballot.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNobody has really caught fire,\u201d said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta, who is not involved in the campaign. Swalwell’s supporters \u201cwill scatter out to other candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Many voters remain distant from governor’s race<\/p>\n