California’s primary election is fast approaching, but the governor’s race remains unsettled, even more so after bombshell allegations of sexual assault and harassment were leveled last week against one of the Democratic frontrunners, East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Swalwell dropped out of the race on Sunday and announced, less than 24 hours later, that he will resign from Congress.
Here’s what happened and what it means for the June 2 primary.
Swalwell, 45, is accused of raping a former staff member twice, when she was too intoxicated to consent, and of harassing three other women, including sending nude photos and making unwanted physical advances. Those allegations were detailed in a San Francisco Chronicle investigation and a subsequent report by CNN.
Swalwell denied the allegations when they broke on April 10; his lawyers sent the women accusing him cease-and-desist letters demanding they retract their claims. But in a video message Swalwell posted late Friday, he also seemed to acknowledge that he’d been unfaithful to his wife, and by Sunday, he had dropped out of the governor’s race.
The most serious allegations involve a woman who worked for Swalwell’s campaign and in his congressional office, a job she began at age 21. She told the Chronicle that Swalwell, who is 17 years older than her, began pursuing her within weeks of joining his office in 2019, sending her explicit pictures on Snapchat and asking for nude photos in return. She alleged that in September 2019, she went out drinking with a group, including Swalwell, in Pleasanton and woke up the next day naked in his hotel room, feeling the effects of vaginal intercourse.
She told the Chronicle and CNN that a similar assault occurred in 2024 in New York City after a night of drinking. In that case, she said, she remembers portions of the night, including being in Swalwell’s hotel room, pushing him off of her and telling him no. She said she woke up alone in his hotel room with vaginal bleeding and bruising.
Swalwell announced Monday that he plans to resign from Congress, though he did not say when. His term as representative for California’s 14th district — which includes the East Bay cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore and Hayward — ends in January.
He is not on the ballot for his congressional seat because he was running for governor. However, his name will still appear on the June ballot for governor, since it’s too late to legally remove it.
Swalwell is also facing possible criminal investigations in both New York and California. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday that it is looking into the alleged 2024 assault, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office said over the weekend that prosecutors there are “evaluating whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred within Alameda County.”
The top-polling candidates in the crowded field include two Republicans: businessman Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Two Democrats other than Swalwell have also been enjoying double-digit support in most polls: former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer.
Other Democratic candidates include Xavier Becerra, who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general, San José Mayor Matt Mahan; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; California Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; and former state Controller Betty Yee.
Swalwell’s departure stands to further shake up what has long been an unsettled race — and California’s first wide-open campaign for governor in two decades.
Prior to Swalwell dropping out, he, Porter and Steyer were the top-polling Democrats. It seems likely that Porter and Steyer could now attract some of his supporters.
California has a “top-two” primary system, meaning the two candidates who receive the most votes in June, regardless of party, will move on to a November runoff. That means two Republicans or two Democrats could face each other in a runoff election.
There’s been concern among Democrats that because no Democratic candidate has consolidated support, Hilton and Bianco could make it into the runoff, shutting out Democrats and resulting in a Republican governor.
That seems less likely now, especially since Hilton recently received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which is likely to play well among Republican voters. The state GOP failed to endorse either candidate at their convention this weekend, though Bianco did get more votes than Hilton from the party insiders.
If Hilton surges ahead of Bianco, the race could come down to a contest between Porter and Steyer for a second spot in the runoff.
Election Day is June 2. The last day to register to vote is May 18.
Counties will begin sending out mail-in ballots on May 4, and in-person early voting starts May 23.
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