California Governor Race Sees Major Upset as Eric Swalwell Drops Out

US Congressman Eric Swalwell has dropped out of the California governor race, citing the need to defend himself against sexual misconduct allegations. The Democrat had been accused by four women of misconduct ranging from harassment to rape, which he vehemently denies.

Swalwell's decision to suspend his campaign comes after top allies called on him to exit the race, in which he was a frontrunner among Democratic candidates. His departure is a significant development in the wide-open primary race, with voters set to receive postal ballots ahead of the 2 June election to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

In a post on X, Swalwell stated, 'I am suspending my campaign for governor.' He expressed regret for past mistakes, saying, 'To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past.' Swalwell also vowed to fight the allegations, but acknowledged that this was a personal matter, not a campaign issue.

The allegations against Swalwell first emerged in the San Francisco Chronicle, with a former staff member claiming that he made inappropriate comments and sent her sexual messages. The woman also alleged that she woke up naked in his hotel room with little recollection of what had happened the night before. Her story was reportedly corroborated by text messages and her former boyfriend.

Reaction to the Allegations

Within hours of the accusations surfacing, Swalwell lost the backing of prominent supporters, including Senator Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. His legal team had sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers the day prior. Swalwell denied the allegations, stating, 'For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.'

The primary election is set to be highly competitive, with at least 10 candidates expected to be on the ballot. The top two vote-getters will move on to the 3 November general election, regardless of party preference or whether one candidate receives a majority of all votes cast in the primary election.