Eric Swalwell must drop out as sexual assault allegations rock governor’s race | Opinion

After shocking allegations of sexual assault by a former staffer came to light Friday afternoon, it’s clear that Rep. Eric Swalwell must drop out of the race for California governor.

These allegations are too serious, and the election calendar is too tight, for Swalwell to continue a race where he was emerging as a front-runner and had secured the endorsements of U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, and Sacramento’s own Rep. Doris Matsui.

If Swalwell continues to campaign, he would do so while accused of conduct that Californians cannot and should not condone in anyone — let alone in someone seeking to be the leader of the California Democratic Party. These allegations will follow him to every campaign stop and every interview. His campaign has already seen senior staffers resign.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Swalwell could defend himself if the House Committee on Ethics and the Office of Congressional Ethics investigated him. But a campaign schedule for governor won’t wait, and key aids for Swalwell have already voted with their feet.

For Swalwell’s own good and for the good of the Democratic Party, he must drop out.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman who worked for nearly two years for the former congressman alleged that she’d had sexual encounters with Swalwell while he was her boss, and also alleged that he sexually assaulted her at least twice when she was too intoxicated to provide consent.

According to the Chronicle: “The woman said Swalwell began pursuing her within weeks after she was hired at age 21 to work in the Democrat’s district office in Castro Valley in 2019. Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat … sending images of his genitals and seeking nude pictures of her in return.” She also accused the former congressman of having sexual intercourse with her while she was intoxicated twice in incidents spanning five years.

In response, Swalwell called the allegations “false” and questioned that they were coming “on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor.”

“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,” he said in a provided statement to the Chronicle. “My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

Democrats have long been disgusted by the allegations and accusations that President Donald Trump has amassed over the years in his public life. Since the 1970s, more than two dozen women have accused the president of sexual misconduct, including rape, sex with minors, assault, abuse, groping and more.

To ignore such allegations now being made against a California gubernatorial candidate would be hypocrisy of the highest order. California Democrats cannot hold the moral high ground against Trump if they are willing to tolerate such serious allegations within their own ranks.

We must hold our own leaders to account, even if others are not willing to.

These allegations will haunt Swalwell’s entire campaign — and far beyond Election Night — if he becomes governor. The whispers will dog his every move and completely undermine the credibility and respect our governor must wield as the leader of the fourth-largest economy in the world and as the nation’s foremost opponent to Trump.

So far, at least two opponents, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, have also called for Swalwell to drop out of the race. At 3:27 pm on Friday, Schiff withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell. A short time later, CNN reported that four women were accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct.

America may have turned its back on the #MeToo movement with the election of Trump, but California must not. In this state — often armored only with our morals and hope for a more just world — here, we hold the powerful to account.

This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM.