“An accuser just BLEW THE WHISTLE on Eric Swalwell’s alleged s*xual assault “I went to the bathroom, I don’t remember anything after…flashes of that evening him on top of me, me pushing him, him grabbing me. It was a lot more aggressive.” He’s DONE.”
In a striking display of intra-party pressure, prominent California Democrats are calling for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to resign his congressional seat and drop out of the gubernatorial race following serious sexual assault and misconduct allegations from a former staffer and at least three other women. The demands escalated rapidly over the past two days after detailed reports emerged in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the calls with a direct statement on X, declaring: “His conduct is incompatible with elected office. The women who came forward deserve to be heard and deserve justice.” Bass’s remarks explicitly backed resignation from Congress in addition to exiting the governor’s race.
Former Rep. Katie Porter, a fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been among the most explicit. In posts on X on April 10, 2026, she stated:
“In light of the allegations of sexual assault, Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and end his campaign for public office. But those decisions do not absolve him of taking responsibility for his misconduct, especially when he has attempted to silence and retaliate against these victims.
These allegations merit full investigations, and these women deserve the right to pursue justice.
Too often, men escape any consequence for sexual misconduct by stepping out of power. That is a first and necessary step towards justice because it limits the ability for further harm. I stand with these women as they seek justice.”
Earlier that day, Porter wrote: “The allegations against Congressman Swalwell are horrifying. I’m thinking of the courageous women who have come forward to share their stories. We believe you and we stand with you.”
Other prominent Democrats have also withdrawn support and urged Swalwell to abandon his gubernatorial bid. These include Sen. Adam Schiff, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former Controller Betty Yee. House Democratic leadership issued a joint statement calling for a swift investigation and for Swalwell to immediately end his campaign for governor.
The allegations center on claims of sexual assault and misconduct. A former staffer told the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent, including one incident that left her bruised and bleeding; she also described a prior consensual relationship with him while she worked for him. CNN reported additional accounts from three other women alleging unsolicited explicit messages, nude photos, and predatory behavior. Swalwell has strongly denied all the claims, calling them “flat false,” “absolutely false,” and politically motivated. He has vowed to fight them and apologized to his wife for unspecified “mistakes” in his past. Several campaign staffers resigned amid the scandal.
A self-identified Democrat on X captured a sentiment shared by some in the party: calls for Swalwell to drop out and resign his seat while holding leaders to a higher standard.
Republicans have pointed to what they see as selective accountability, noting the swift pressure to exit the governor’s race versus slower or more limited initial demands for resignation from Congress, where Swalwell retains his seat and committee roles. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and others have signaled plans to pursue his removal via a House vote.
As high-profile figures like Mayor Karen Bass and former Rep. Katie Porter explicitly call for full resignation from Congress, the pressure on Swalwell and House Democratic leadership continues to mount. The party’s response, initially centered on the gubernatorial campaign, now faces broader questions about consistency on sexual misconduct at a time when Democrats have positioned themselves as champions of victims’ rights. Swalwell has given no indication he plans to step down.
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