LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s 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’s most populous state.
Swalwell’s decision to suspend his campaign Sunday followed allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him, which were published 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, stating, 'I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.'
The key issue for rival candidates now is where Swalwell’s supporters will go, as he was one of the most prominent Democrats in the contest, with mail ballots set to go to voters in early May ahead of the June 2 primary election.
Katie Porter, a leading Democratic candidate, highlighted the importance of uniting the party, saying Dems can 'pull victory from the jaws of defeat by coalescing around Porter.' Billionaire hedge fund manager-turned-liberal activist Tom Steyer also claimed to have secured support from Rep. Jared Huffman.
With seven established Democrats and two leading Republicans on the primary ballot among more than 50 candidates, the race remains fluid. Although Swalwell has suspended his campaign, he cannot remove his name from the ballot.
Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta noted, 'Nobody has really caught fire,' suggesting Swalwell’s supporters would scatter to other candidates.
Swalwell is best known nationally for his role as a House manager in Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in early 2021. However, the ongoing allegations may have made voters more aware of him than of other candidates like Tom Steyer, who may be less familiar to the general public.
As the allegations surfaced, political pressure mounted for Swalwell, even leading to calls for his resignation from several colleagues, including Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, and Pramila Jayapal. Jayapal stated, 'This is not a partisan issue. This cuts across party lines.'
With the House returning to session, there are discussions about possibly expelling Swalwell if he does not resign. Expulsions from the House are rare and require a two-thirds majority to pass.
Swalwell, originally from Iowa, has served since 2012, representing a district east of San Francisco. He had launched a presidential run in April 2019, but it did not gain traction.
