Eric Swalwell’s rapid political collapse reached a new level Monday when he announced he will resign from Congress. The California Democrat had already suspended his campaign for governor after four women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a former staffer who alleged assault while intoxicated.
Swalwell continues to deny the allegations and has not been charged with a crime. Still, mounting pressure from both parties, an ethics probe in Congress, and a criminal investigation in New York left him increasingly isolated. His departure leaves California’s 14th District temporarily without representation and throws the governor’s race into even greater turmoil.
Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress after multiple sexual misconduct allegations derailed his California governor campaign. He denies the claims, but criminal and ethics investigations are now underway. #EricSwalwell #California #Politics #Scandal #Resignation pic.twitter.com/6W71QSXf2I
— Matthew Brady (@mattbrady775) April 13, 2026
- Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California’s 14th District, announced April 13 that he will resign from Congress, one day after suspending his campaign for California governor.
- The resignation follows allegations from four women. A former staffer alleged two non-consensual sexual encounters, in 2019 and again in 2024, while three other women alleged unsolicited explicit photos, unwanted touching, kissing, and inappropriate messages.
- Swalwell denied the allegations, calling them false, but said he was “deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment” and did not want the controversy to distract from his duties in Congress.
- The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the 2024 allegation in New York. The House Ethics Committee also launched a formal review.
- More than 50 former staffers urged Swalwell to resign, and bipartisan pressure intensified. Democratic figures including Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Ro Khanna, and Jared Huffman called on him to step aside, while Republicans pushed for expulsion.
- Swalwell’s seat in California’s East Bay-based 14th District may remain vacant until a special election or until the next Congress begins in January 2027, depending on whether Gov. Gavin Newsom calls a special election.
- His exit also reshapes the crowded California governor’s race. Former Rep. Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco are expected to compete for Swalwell’s former supporters and donors.
