Summary: U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democratic candidate for California governor, has been accused by a former district office staffer of two nonconsensual sexual encounters, one in 2019 while she was employed by him and another in 2024 after she had left his staff. The woman later told CNN that the 2024 encounter was rape, charges Swalwell has denied as false and politically motivated. Additional allegations from three other women of separate sexual misconduct were reported. The disclosures have prompted prominent Democrats and a major teachers' union to withdraw support and call for Swalwell to exit the race.
Eric Swalwell, who has been regarded as one of the leading contenders in the crowded field for California governor, has forcefully rejected accusations of sexual assault leveled by a former employee of his congressional district office. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the woman, who was not named, said she experienced two nonconsensual encounters with Swalwell - one while she worked for him in 2019 and another in 2024 after she had left his staff. The woman told the Chronicle she had been too intoxicated on both occasions to consent.
In an interview with CNN, the same woman said the later encounter amounted to rape. On camera but filmed in shadow to conceal her identity, she said, "I was pushing him off of me, saying no." When asked how Swalwell responded, she said, "He didn’t stop." CNN separately reported that three other women had accused Swalwell of unrelated incidents of sexual misconduct, including unsolicited explicit messages or photographs. Swalwell has denied those allegations as well.
Responding to the reports, Swalwell issued a statement calling the accusations false and timed to influence the election. "These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor," he said, adding that across nearly two decades of public service as a prosecutor and a congressman he has "always protected women." He said he will defend himself with facts and pursue legal action where appropriate, and that his immediate focus is to be with his wife and children and to defend the "decades of service" he said his family has provided.
A spokesperson for Swalwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The revelations have had immediate consequences for Swalwell's campaign. U.S. Senator Adam Schiff withdrew his endorsement and called on Swalwell to leave the race. The California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers' union, suspended its support. House Democratic leadership, including Hakeem Jeffries, released statements saying Swalwell should "immediately end his campaign." The developments have introduced uncertainty into a contest in which Swalwell had been widely viewed as a leading candidate likely to advance to a runoff.
California’s gubernatorial primary operates under a top-two nonpartisan system in which the two candidates receiving the most votes in the June primary advance to the November general election, even if both are from the same party. With multiple candidates from several parties competing, the loss of endorsements and organizational backing could materially affect Swalwell’s standing among voters and his ability to consolidate support as the primary approaches.
At this stage, Swalwell denies wrongdoing and has signaled an intent to counter the allegations through factual rebuttals and potential legal measures. Other parties involved - including additional accusers and institutions that withdrew support - have made public moves in response to the reports. The account of events remains contested, and the campaign dynamics are shifting in real time as the primary approaches.
Note: The reporting cited public statements and interviews as described above. Where individuals were not named in public reporting, they are referred to by their relationship to Swalwell as reported.