The California governor’s race has been thrown into chaos after Eric Swalwell, the apparent frontrunner among Democratic candidates, suspended his campaign following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell, a US representative for the East Bay, has categorically denied the allegations and vowed to fight them, but the controversy has forced him to resign his seat in Congress.
The sudden downfall of Swalwell, who had been gaining momentum with high-profile endorsements and leading in polls, has left the Democratic field scrambling. With the candidate filing deadline already passed and ballots set to be mailed next month ahead of the 2 June primary, the party must quickly reassess its options.
Political analysts describe the race as the state’s “most curious” in recent memory, lacking a standout candidate with the star power California voters expect. The field includes former US representative Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former US health secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and San José mayor Matt Mahan, but no obvious successor has emerged.
The vacuum was exacerbated by decisions from Kamala Harris and Senator Alex Padilla not to enter the race, leaving Democrats without a well-known figure to rally behind. At the party’s convention in February, no candidate secured enough delegate support for an endorsement.
Swalwell’s suspension of his campaign came after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported allegations from multiple women, including a former staffer who claimed sexual assault. Swalwell’s lawyer stated that he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation”. The race now enters a new phase of uncertainty as Democrats seek to consolidate support ahead of the primary.
