Swalwell’s Gubernatorial Campaign Collapses as Explosive Sexual Assault Allegations Trigger Mass Democratic Defections

This story has been updated with breaking developments related to Eric Swalwell’s  donation and endorsement pages on his campaign website (see below)

In a stunning development that has rocked California’s Democratic establishment just weeks before the June primary, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Castro Valley), the Democratic frontrunner for governor, is facing an avalanche of political fallout following explosive sexual assault allegations detailed in a bombshell report by the San Francisco Chronicle.

A former staffer who worked for Swalwell for nearly two years (2019-2021)  has come forward accusing the congressman of sexual assault, claiming she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and that he twice assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent. The allegations, which surfaced publicly Friday, build on weeks of social media chatter from Democratic activists and influencers—including Cheyenne Hunt of Gen-Z for Change—who have said multiple women are preparing to share stories of sexual harassment and abuse at Swalwell’s hands.

NEW: Former staffer says Rep. Eric Swalwell, candidate for California governor, sexually assaulted her, @akoseff and I report: https://t.co/f2M76CQSPl

— Sophia Bollag (@SophiaBollag) April 10, 2026

Swalwell’s campaign has vehemently denied the claims, calling them “false” and “outrageous” rumors timed to derail his bid. In earlier statements, the congressman insisted no ethics complaints have ever been filed against him in his 13 years in Congress and that no staffers were ever asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. “There has never been an allegation and there has never been a settlement,” he told reporters earlier this week.

But the denials have done little to stem the bleeding. On Friday afternoon, the powerful California Teachers Association (CTA)—which endorsed Swalwell at the end of March—abruptly pulled its support in a public statement that sent shockwaves through Sacramento.

“The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell,” the CTA posted on X. “We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process to determine next steps.”

The union’s decision was immediately seized upon by critics. Ric Grenell, former Acting Director of National Intelligence, posted the CTA statement with a blunt assessment: “It’s over for Swalwell. He’s officially done.”

It’s over for Swalwell.

He’s officially done. https://t.co/0JHDfvsNJK

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) April 10, 2026

The CTA’s reversal was only the beginning of the Friday afternoon collapse. Multiple Democratic leaders and major interest groups have now distanced themselves from the embattled candidate amid what appears to be a coordinated retreat.

U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who had previously endorsed Swalwell earlier in the race, has now called for the congressman to immediately drop out of the gubernatorial contest. 

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) quickly rescinded his endorsement of Swalwell late Friday.

Former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier), who had dropped out of the gubernatorial race earlier this year and endorsed Swalwell, called for the congressman to immediately suspend his campaign. 

Other Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, publicly urged Swalwell to drop out of the race.

Proud to have my friend and fellow fighter Sen. Ruben Gallego with me in this campaign.

We both come from working-class families — we both know what it means to hustle, to fight for every opportunity, and to never forget where you came from. pic.twitter.com/4Pr03P8RZQ

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) March 26, 2026

In a further blow, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California suspended its independent expenditure ad buys supporting Swalwell, effectively canceling a significant chunk of outside spending that had been boosting his campaign. The California Medical Association, which had already spent more than $1 million in independent expenditures on behalf of Swalwell, convened an emergency board meeting Friday to reconsider its financial and political backing.

🚨🚨Pro-Swalwell IE is cancelling ad buys https://t.co/shaK4nPfd7

— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) April 10, 2026

Multiple members of Swalwell’s own campaign staff have reportedly resigned in the wake of the Chronicle report, according to sources close to the campaign.

The rapid unraveling marks a dramatic nosedive for Swalwell, who just weeks ago was positioning himself as the “moderate” alternative in a crowded Democratic field. The allegations have amplified long-standing questions about his personal conduct and judgment—questions that Democratic insiders had previously dismissed as partisan attacks or “MAGA conspiracy theories.”

This latest scandal compounds earlier controversies surrounding Swalwell, including his well-documented relationship with Christine “Fang Fang” Fang, a suspected Chinese Communist Party spy who bundled donations for his campaigns and reportedly had a romantic relationship with him. 

Yet the speed and breadth of Friday’s reversals—from the state’s largest teachers union to major labor and medical groups—suggest the Democratic Party’s tolerance for the congressman has reached a breaking point. With mail-in ballots already hitting mailboxes, the once-dominant Swalwell campaign now finds itself in free fall, its path to the governorship effectively blocked by the very party apparatus that once shielded him.

Swalwell’s collapse is playing out in real time on prediction markets. According to betting platform Kalshi, Swalwell’s implied odds of winning the California governorship have cratered from above 70% just weeks ago to just 7% as of Friday afternoon. Markets are now pricing in a 64% chance that Swalwell drops out of the race entirely. 

The clear beneficiary: billionaire activist Tom Steyer, whose odds have skyrocketed to 59-60% (up dramatically from 14% one week ago). Former Rep. Katie Porter has seen a more modest bump to 14%. 

As one Sacramento insider put it Friday evening: “The dam just broke.”

California Globe will continue to follow this fast-moving story as more details emerge and as Swalwell’s remaining allies decide whether any political future remains for the embattled congressman.

UPDATE: ActBlue’s donation page on Swalwell’s campaign site is closed for business as is Swalwell’s endorsement page.

Not only is the endorsements page down, the donation page on Swalwell's website is too: https://t.co/QBPIXOTyVu pic.twitter.com/sFI2c9rw6I

— Jaron Zhou (@ZhouJaron) April 10, 2026