Rep. Swalwell drops out of California governors race amid assault allegations

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California Governor’s Race Takes Hit as Eric Swalwell Drops Out Amid Allegations

US Representative Eric Swalwell has announced his withdrawal from the California governor’s race, following allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision comes amid mounting pressure on Swalwell to step down from his congressional seat.

Swalwell had been a prominent candidate in the Democratic primary, but his campaign was dealt a significant blow when multiple women came forward with accusations of unwanted touching and other forms of harassment. The allegations surfaced during Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign, but they resurfaced again as he ran for governor.

In response to the allegations, several high-profile Democrats have distanced themselves from Swalwell, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Newsom had previously endorsed Swalwell’s candidacy, while Pelosi had expressed support for his re-election bid in Congress.

As a result of the scandal, calls are growing for Swalwell to resign from his congressional seat. Some lawmakers have even suggested that Swalwell could face expulsion from the House if he does not step down voluntarily.

Swalwell’s decision to drop out of the governor’s race is seen as a significant blow to his chances of winning the Democratic nomination. The California primary is scheduled for June, and it remains to be seen whether Swalwell will be able to recover from the scandal.

The incident has also raised questions about the handling of sexual misconduct allegations in politics. Several lawmakers have faced similar accusations in recent years, and there are growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in addressing such claims.

Swalwell’s campaign team released a statement saying that he was dropping out of the governor’s race due to the “intense scrutiny” surrounding his candidacy. The statement did not address the allegations directly, but said that Swalwell had decided it was time to focus on his congressional seat.

Source: Google News World