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In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell has put his campaign for California governor on hold. This decision comes in the wake of sexual assault allegations that have intensified scrutiny within the Democratic primary race. Swalwell made the announcement on Sunday, effectively pausing his political ambitions.
Swalwell released a statement where he explained his choice to withdraw from the race, stating his intention to focus on addressing the allegations against him.
“I owe an apology to my family, staff, friends, and supporters for the lapses in judgment I’ve demonstrated in the past. While I am committed to fighting the serious and false accusations presented against me, I recognize that this is a personal battle, not one for my campaign,” he declared.
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This suspension has already begun to alter the dynamics of the highly anticipated race, where Swalwell had previously been leading by a narrow margin among Democratic contenders.
Criticism of Swalwell has circulated in Washington for years, according to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who spoke on ABC’s “This Week.”
“Every member in Congress knows not to let any young staffer around Swalwell or Matt Gaetz, it’s not a secret there,” McCarthy said.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said the allegations were not unexpected, citing longstanding talk among Democratic leaders.
“No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleague in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schiff said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said,” Brown said.
Brown said Swalwell’s exit leaves the field unsettled, and he has not yet decided who deserves his backing.
“I’m still trying to find somebody who might be able to win and so far I haven’t found them,” Brown said.
Political analysts said the fallout creates uncertainty for voters and party leaders alike.
“But right now, this is a mess. It’s a mess for the Democratic Party, and it’s a mess for California primary voters,” said Daniel Schnur, who teaches political communications at UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
Schnur said the two immediate beneficiaries of Swalwell’s decision are Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, though both face obstacles. He said Steyer has drawn criticism for his wealth and investment history, while Porter’s personal style has sparked complaints.
“He’s being attacked for making millions and millions of dollars for investing his money in ways that most Democrats find to be absolutely unacceptable,” Schnur said of Steyer.
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“Porter is being criticized for being unpleasant,” he said. “I don’t think most Californians want an unpleasant governor, but of the two, it seems like it might be an obstacle that is more likely to be overcome.”
Brown said former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has the deepest experience in the race, but that has not translated into strong polling. He added that campaign finances may now play an outsized role.
“Money is beginning to mean something in political races and when you can’t raise it, you maybe at a terrible disadvantage,” Brown said. “I think all those democrats are now at a disadvantage because Tom Steyer has more money than sin.”
Swalwell’s suspension leaves Democrats reassessing a race that, until Sunday, appeared to have a clear front-runner, with the primary still months away.
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