Eric Swalwell’s California governor bid is getting messy fast as allegations about his behavior with women and staff have resurfaced, rivals are pushing hard, and the campaign insists the claims are false. This article walks through the accusations, key quotes from critics and allies, how the campaign has responded, and what it could mean for the crowded primary. Expect blunt political stakes and unanswered questions moving into the June primary.
Pressure is piling on Swalwell from across the political map after multiple allegations were shared publicly, and one high-profile Democrat called him out directly. “I’m very disappointed in Eric Swalwell,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said on social media Wednesday. “As more and more women come forward with sexual harassment allegations, Swalwell skipped town to avoid facing tough questions about these allegations.”
Villaraigosa did not stop there, and his call for accountability cut to the chase in plain language. “If Swalwell wants voters to trust him, he needs to show up, stop hiding behind his campaign staff and social media accounts, and answer every question from reporters and the public. Voters deserve nothing less,” he added. Those words matter because they come from a fellow Democrat willing to criticize an intra-party rival.
The Swalwell campaign pushed back hard and put forward specific claims about his recent public appearances to prove responsiveness. “Congressman Swalwell spoke to more than 1,000 town hall attendees for nearly 90 minutes Tuesday in Sacramento,” Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for the Swalwell campaign, said. “Afterward, he met with members of the media to answer their questions.”
Still, the accusations have a persistent voice online, led in part by former staffer Cheyenne Hunt and by others aligned with left-leaning causes. “The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women,” Hunt claimed in a post to social media in March. She posted an image of a direct message sent to her privately containing an allegation against Swalwell.
That private message was explicit and damaging in tone, though it has not been independently verified. “You know, Eric Swalwell has slept with many of his interns and makes them all sign [non-disclosure agreements] so they don’t speak up, right? And when I was 19, he tried hitting on me and sliding into my DMs,” the quote read. Hunt says she is working with multiple women to go public, but no one has yet come forward with corroboration.
Others in Democratic circles have urged the party to take the claims seriously while stopping short of presenting evidence. “Hey, I just got off the phone with a trusted friend. This is real. Take it seriously. Eric Swallwell cannot be our nominee. There is going to be a lot more coming out soon. I can’t say more right now, but stay tuned,” Bhavik Lathia wrote on social media Monday. Those kinds of warnings add fuel to primary-day concerns about electability and optics.
On the campaign trail, opponents and allies have already tried to shape the narrative in ways that matter for the June primary. Former Rep. Katie Porter called the accusations “troubling” and said she will stand with potential accusers when they are ready to speak, saying, “It is those women’s stories to tell when they are ready, and I hope that they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so,” Porter told CNN on Tuesday. “I believe women. I think that has to be the starting place here. So when those women speak up, I will be there, helping to amplify their truths.”
Swalwell has denied wrongdoing and his team labeled the claims “outrageous,” while pointing fingers at political motives and suggesting links to opponents. At the same time, critics have mined past videos and voting records to make a broader argument about priorities and character, pushing the story into the larger debate over who should represent California in November.
Swalwell, 45, has been in the U.S. House since 2013 and built a reputation as a frequent critic of former President Trump, but this campaign has shifted the focus to personal conduct and political fitness. He launched his bid to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom late in 2025, and now faces a sprawling field that includes names from across the political spectrum, meaning every accusation and rebuttal matters for who gets into the final two. The primary will test whether voters are persuaded by denials, convinced by critics, or simply turned off by the spectacle.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.