Eric Swalwell Resigns From Congress Amid Sexual Assault Allegations, Upending California Governor Race
Eric Swalwell, the Democratic congressman from California, announced Monday he will resign from his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after facing mounting sexual assault and misconduct allegations from multiple women. The news caps a stunning 48-hour collapse for one of the leading candidates in the California governor race.
Who Is Eric Swalwell and Why Is He Resigning
Rep. Eric Swalwell is a seven-term Democratic lawmaker from California's 14th congressional district who had been considered a front-runner in the 2026 California gubernatorial race before a wave of sexual misconduct allegations forced him out of the contest and ultimately out of Congress.
Swalwell announced his resignation Monday following calls from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for him to step down amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations. In his statement, he wrote: "I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
Eric Swalwell Allegations: What the Women Claim
On April 10, 2026, the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations from a former staffer who said Swalwell had sexually assaulted her on two occasions. That same day, CNN published additional claims from four women, including one allegation of rape and others describing inappropriate conduct and unsolicited nude photos.
According to the report, the woman joined Swalwell's staff at age 21 in 2019. She said he immediately began sending her images of his genitals on Snapchat and pursuing her despite being 17 years her senior and married.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed it has opened an inquiry into a sexual assault allegation involving Swalwell, tied to an encounter following a 2024 charity event where a former staffer told CNN she had been intoxicated and awoke to find him in bed with her, claiming she resisted and told him to stop but he did not.
Eric Swalwell's Response and Denial
Swalwell continued to deny some claims of misconduct, saying he will "fight the serious, false allegation made against me" while adding, "However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it launched an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee under his supervision. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had said she would force a vote on Swalwell's expulsion from Congress in the coming weeks.
Brittany Swalwell and Family
Swalwell is married to Brittany Watts Swalwell. In a video posted to social media Friday, Swalwell publicly apologized to his wife amid the mounting allegations, referencing "mistakes in judgment" he made in his past. The couple has children together, and Swalwell's statements repeatedly cited the impact of the situation on his family as a driving factor behind his decision to step down.
California Governor Race Thrown Into Chaos
The news of Swalwell's resignation came one day after the Democratic lawmaker ended his California gubernatorial campaign.
Now that Swalwell has dropped out — with ballots already printed and going out in the mail for early voting in just over three weeks — Democrats are aggressively jockeying to consolidate support ahead of a rapidly approaching top-two, all-party primary.
Steyer picked up the endorsements of three state lawmakers who had backed Swalwell, while the Porter campaign circulated an internal memo showing nearly half of Swalwell supporters named Porter as their second choice — and just 14 percent said Steyer was theirs.
California Governor Race Polls: Who Benefits
The remaining Democratic field includes Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former State Controller Betty Yee. Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco are running as Republicans.
On April 4, Swalwell led the field with a 67 percent implied probability of advancing from the primary. Within minutes of the initial report surfacing, his probability collapsed to 17 percent. Steve Hilton rose from 59 to 82 percent, while Tom Steyer climbed from 26 to 60 percent in prediction markets.
What Happens Next: Special Election and Congress
Swalwell's departure from his 14th District seat will require Governor Gavin Newsom to call a special election within 14 days of the vacancy to fill the post. Newsom's office confirmed it is aware of Swalwell's intent to resign.
On April 13, lawyers for another woman who said she has serious sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell that have not yet been made public announced she would hold a news conference in Los Angeles on April 14 to describe the next legal steps. The political and legal fallout for Eric Swalwell appears far from over.
