Eric Swalwell’s resignation took effect April 15 with the California Democrat stepping down from his seven-term House seat, triggering a political meltdown that erased his congressional career and his status as a front-runner in the California governor’s race in less than one week.
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- Swalwell announced his resignation on April 13 under bipartisan pressure, with the House Ethics Committee opening a formal investigation the same day into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct toward a female employee under his supervision.
- A fifth woman, Lona Drews, held a press conference on April 14 in Beverly Hills alleging she was drugged and assaulted by Swalwell at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018.
- The resignation leaves California’s 14th District vacant before November Mid-termWith California Governor Gavin Newsom calling for a special election.
Eric Swalwell’s resignation marked an abrupt end to a 13-year congressional career that, until last week, was on track to produce California’s next governor. Swalwell, 45, to resign After at least five women publicly accused him of sexual misconduct and assault in reports first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
“I will fight the dangerous and false accusations against me,” Swalwell wrote in his resignation statement. “However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I made.”
These accusations surfaced late last week. A former employee told CNN that she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell on two occasions, including an incident that left her “bruised and bleeding.” Three other women alleged unwanted explicit messages and nude photos via Snapchat. By Sunday, all of Swalwell’s 21 congressional endorsements for the governor’s race had been withdrawn. He suspended the campaign that night.
The collapse accelerated on April 14 when a fifth woman, Luna Droz, appeared at a news conference in Beverly Hills, represented by attorney Lisa Bloom. Drewes alleged that Swalwell drugged and assaulted her at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018. “When I got to his hotel room, I was already helpless,” she said in statements reported by multiple media outlets. “He raped me.” Swalwell’s attorney has denied all allegations of assault.
Accounts of Congress after his departure
The House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation on April 13. This investigation will likely end with his departure. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna had submitted a resolution to expel Swalwell, but confirmed that she had withdrawn it as soon as his resignation became official. Republican Representative Tony Gonzalez of Texas also announced his resignation on the same day, due to an affair with a former employee who later died by suicide.
Swalwell’s exit leaves a vacant seat in California’s 14th District, a safe seat for Democrats east of San Francisco. The schedule for the special election is at Newsom’s discretion. Democrats head into November Mid-term With one less member of the House of Representatives and an important reputational story to manage in an already difficult election cycle.
Implications for the Democratic Party
Sen. Adam Schiff, who endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, told reporters that the allegations were “shocking and deeply disturbing,” adding that he believed resigning was “the right decision.” No prominent Democrat has publicly questioned that assessment.
The race for California governor is still wide open. Swalwell had led several early polls before the scandal emerged, and his exit upended a Democratic primary that was already crowded with candidates hoping to succeed Newsom.
