Eric Swalwell, a seven-term Democratic congressman from northern California who had emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, suspended his campaign on Sunday following sexual assault and misconduct allegations made by four women. The withdrawal came after a rapid collapse of support from allies, co-chairs, and major endorsers who called on him to exit the race.

The most serious allegations were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, which detailed claims by a former staff member that Swalwell had sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too inebriated to consent. Three additional women separately alleged that Swalwell had sent them unsolicited nude photographs or explicit messages. Swalwell, 45, who is married with three children, forcefully denied all the allegations, calling them "false" and suggesting they amounted to a coordinated effort to derail his campaign. "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women," he said, adding that he would pursue legal action where necessary.

In a statement posted on social media, Swalwell wrote: "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that's my fight, not a campaign's." He also apologised to his family, staff, and supporters for "mistakes in judgment" in his past, a formulation that struck a markedly different tone from his outright denials. The same day, the Department of Homeland Security announced a separate investigation into allegations that Swalwell had hired a Brazilian national as a nanny without lawful work authorisation, a complaint originally filed by a California filmmaker in February.

The political fallout was swift. California senator Adam Schiff, one of Swalwell's most prominent backers, withdrew his endorsement and called on him to leave the race, as did senator Alex Padilla. Campaign co-chairs, congressmen Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, resigned their roles, with Gomez saying he could not "in good conscience" remain. The California Teachers Association, a powerful labour union, immediately suspended its support. Arizona senator Ruben Gallego publicly expressed regret for having defended Swalwell against rumours of the allegations before learning the full picture.

Swalwell's departure creates significant uncertainty for California's June 2 gubernatorial primary, which operates under an unusual "top-two" system — regardless of party affiliation, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. With Swalwell gone, Democrats now face the prospect that two Republican candidates could potentially advance, leaving the largest and most reliably Democratic state in the US without a Democrat on the final ballot. Swalwell had previously risen to national prominence as a vocal critic of Donald Trump and served as an impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.