Eric Swalwell

Snapshot

Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on April 12, 2026, and announced the next day that he would resign from Congress, effective April 14, 2026. The exit followed reporting on April 10 by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN in which four women described sexual misconduct, including a former staffer who said Swalwell had nonconsensual sexual contact with her (CNN; NPR). Swalwell denies all the allegations, calling them “false” and saying they came “on the eve of an election” (SF Standard).

Because the June 2 primary ballot had already been printed, Swalwell’s name still appears on it and votes cast for him will be counted, but he is no longer campaigning, organizing, or spending. A former six-term East Bay congressman, 2020 presidential candidate, and prominent Trump antagonist, his campaign had — before the reporting — assembled a major union endorsement, committed independent-expenditure support, and a polling position near the top of the Democratic field.

Background

Eric Michael Swalwell was born November 16, 1980, in Sac City, Iowa, and raised in Dublin, California, the son of a police officer. He earned a B.A. (2003) and a J.D. (2006) from the University of Maryland, began his career as an Alameda County deputy district attorney (2006–2012), and won a seat on the Dublin City Council in 2010 (Wikipedia). In 2012, at age 31, he ousted 20-term Democratic incumbent Pete Stark in a same-party top-two general election. He married Brittany Watts in 2016; the couple has three children.

Record

Swalwell represented California in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2026 (CA-15, then the redistricted CA-14), serving on the Intelligence and Judiciary committees and becoming a frequent cable-news presence during the Russia investigation and impeachment eras. He was one of nine House impeachment managers in the 2021 Senate trial of Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol attack and sued Trump and others that March, alleging they incited the riot (CNN, 2021). Gun-violence prevention was his signature national issue; during his 2020 presidential run he proposed banning and buying back military-style semiautomatic rifles. In January 2023, Speaker Kevin McCarthy blocked him from the Intelligence Committee, citing the Fang Fang matter (see below); Swalwell called it political retaliation.

Coalition & base

Before his exit, Swalwell’s coalition combined an East Bay geographic base, organized labor, anti-Trump activist Democrats, and a national online and Hollywood donor network. He polled credibly in the low double digits — 11% in PPIC’s February 2026 survey and a lead in a late-2025 Emerson poll (PPIC). After the allegations the coalition dispersed: a major union rescinded its endorsement, allied officials withdrew support, and his labor and donor base flowed largely to other Democrats (The Hill).

Controversies & scrutiny

• Sexual-misconduct allegations (April 2026) — the campaign-ending event. On April 10, 2026, the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported that four women described sexual misconduct by Swalwell (CNN; SF Standard). A former staffer said he had nonconsensual sexual contact with her on two occasions while she was incapacitated, describing the second as rape; the Chronicle reported it corroborated aspects using medical records and accounts from others. A second woman described a hotel-room incident; two others said they received unsolicited explicit messages. Manhattan prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the alleged staffer assault (ABC7). Swalwell denies all the allegations, calling them “lies,” and his attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to CNN.
• The 72-hour sequence. On April 10, party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries urged him to exit and several allies withdrew endorsements; on April 11, SEIU California rescinded its endorsement, citing its priority on workplaces free of harassment and assault (SEIU); on April 12, Swalwell suspended his campaign; on April 13, facing a threatened expulsion resolution, he announced he would resign from Congress effective April 14 (NPR; CNN).
• Fang Fang matter (2020). In December 2020, Axios reported that suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang had cultivated California politicians and participated in fundraising for Swalwell’s 2014 campaign. Swalwell cut ties in 2015 after an FBI briefing, was not accused of wrongdoing, and an FBI official said he was “completely cooperative and under no suspicion.” The House Ethics Committee closed its inquiry in May 2023 (Axios, 2020; Axios, 2023).

Campaign & messaging

Swalwell built a national brand on combativeness toward Trump — cable-news ubiquity, the impeachment-manager role, and the January 6 lawsuit — and translated it into a “fighter and protector” message centered on affordability and safety, launched on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 21, 2025 (CalMatters). The campaign was cut short before its detailed-policy phase, so few state-specific proposals were published.

How they differ

Swalwell occupied an East Bay / labor-progressive / anti-Trump-resistance lane, distinguished by his national-media persona and union backing. After his exit, his labor and donor map flowed primarily to Xavier Becerra, and the California Teachers Association moved to Tom Steyer (The Hill). Note: he is no longer a candidate; his name remains on the printed June 2 ballot and votes for him are still counted.