California Congressman Eric Swalwell announced Sunday he is suspending his campaign for governor amid mounting sexual assault allegations, sparking immediate debate online over whether stepping back from the race goes far enough. The post, shared on X by @ericswalwell, drew thousands of responses within hours of going live.
In the announcement, Swalwell wrote that he is “deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment” made in his past, while maintaining the allegations are false. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” he said.
The suspension follows reports from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle detailing allegations from four women, including a former staffer who accused him of sexual assault. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has confirmed it is investigating. Swalwell’s name will remain on the June 2 primary ballot, as the deadline to remove it has passed.
What People Are Saying Online
The post sparked reactions online. On X, the dominant response was that suspending the campaign is insufficient. “Good first step. Now resign from Congress,” one user wrote. Others echoed the sentiment. Several users questioned the logic of his statement, with one writing: “So your ‘mistakes’ are bad enough that you can’t run for governor… but you can still be a congressman? Make it make sense.”
Others pushed back on his framing entirely. “Why suspend the campaign based on false allegations? That’s more reason to stay in and fight,” one commenter wrote.
On Reddit, reactions shifted toward what his exit means for the race. Some expressed relief, with one user writing: “Good. Now we can all get behind someone we really want instead of the one that the political machine wants.” Others raised concern about vote splitting, noting that if Swalwell’s supporters divide between Porter and Steyer, Republicans could benefit in the general election.
The suspension reshapes a race already under national scrutiny, with the question of Swalwell’s congressional seat now taking center stage.
