By Friday evening, the endorsement page on Eric Swalwell’s California gubernatorial campaign website was displaying an error message. It was a fitting symbol for what had become a rapidly unraveling political situation.
Within hours of a San Francisco Chronicle report publishing the first firsthand public account from a former staffer alleging sexual assault by the California congressman, some of the most prominent names in California Democratic politics had pulled their support — and the calls for Swalwell to exit the race were growing louder by the hour.
Swalwell has denied the allegations. The account published by the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday describes a pattern of conduct that the former staffer says began while she worked for Swalwell and continued after her employment ended.
According to the report, the woman alleges that on multiple occasions she blacked out from alcohol consumption and woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed with physical signs suggesting sexual intercourse had taken place. She alleges Swalwell pressured her to send explicit photographs of herself and sent sexually explicit images of his own. She further alleges he exposed himself while driving with her present and requested she perform a sexual act on him.
She told the Chronicle that these incidents directly affected how Swalwell treated her professionally.
Following the publication of her account, CNN independently reported that it had spoken to three additional women who alleged various forms of sexual misconduct by Swalwell — including receiving unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
Swalwell’s attorney had sent cease and desist letters on Thursday targeting those who had been elevating the allegations on social media. Neither Swalwell nor his attorney responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment following the firsthand account’s publication.
Pelosi and Schiff Withdraw Support
The Democratic response was swift — and came from figures whose endorsements had been central to Swalwell’s campaign.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., stopped short of explicitly calling for Swalwell to withdraw but made her position unmistakable.
“The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard,” Pelosi said. “As I discussed with Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was considerably more direct.
“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account, and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,” Schiff said. “This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately and believe that he should withdraw from the race.”
A Party Lining Up Against Him
The withdrawals extended well beyond Pelosi and Schiff.
California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks issued a statement that, while careful in its wording, reinforced the pressure on Swalwell.
“The allegations against Congressmember Swalwell are deeply disturbing,” Hicks said. “Any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions — including a member of Congress and candidate for Governor.”
The California Teachers Association moved quickly as well. “The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell,” the union said on X. “We are immediately suspending our support.”
Matt Mahan, a fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former San Jose mayor, used the moment to draw a sharper line.
“To the survivor who risked everything to come forward — I believe you,” Mahan said. “To the Democratic Party — you’d better hold him accountable. If we don’t, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same. To Eric Swalwell — drop out.”
A Close Ally Reverses Course
Perhaps the most striking turnaround came from Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. — a longtime personal friend of Swalwell’s who had previously served as chair of his failed presidential campaign.
Earlier this week, Gallego had actively defended Swalwell on social media, attempting to discredit a user who predicted the allegations would end his campaign and arguing that Swalwell was being “targeted” precisely because he was “in first place.”
After the Chronicle report, Gallego reversed completely.
“I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible,” Gallego posted Friday. “Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed. I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.”
How the Allegations Surfaced
The allegations had been circulating in Democratic circles before Friday’s Chronicle report, elevated on social media by figures including Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and nonprofit director at Gen-Z for Change, and Arielle Fodor, a political content creator who goes by “Mrs. Frazzled” online.
Swalwell’s campaign had aggressively sought to contain the story before it reached mainstream publication — his attorney’s cease and desist letters were dispatched on Thursday, the day before the Chronicle broke the firsthand account.
The publication of that account on Friday — followed rapidly by CNN’s separate report of three additional accusers — transformed what had been social media noise into a full-scale political crisis.
In the span of a single Friday, Eric Swalwell’s California gubernatorial campaign went from a competitive race to a contest whose viability is now openly questioned by some of the most powerful figures in his own party. Pelosi, Schiff, Gallego, the California Teachers Association, and the state party chairman have all either withdrawn support or signaled that accountability must follow. The candidate himself has denied everything and has not yet addressed the firsthand allegations publicly. What happens next — whether Swalwell remains in the race, faces further legal exposure, or steps aside — will define one of the most consequential political stories in California in years.