Swalwell is accused of sexual misconduct amid California governor’s race

“I am very disappointed in Eric Swalwell,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said on social media on Wednesday. “As more and more women have come forward with sexual harassment allegations, Swalwell has skipped town to avoid facing difficult questions about the allegations.”

He added: “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.”

Swalwell’s campaign responded in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling Villaraigosa’s claims that the Democratic lawmaker is unreachable “false” and “ridiculous.”

Adam Schiff supports the race for California governor

Gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell waves before speaking at the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco, February 21, 2026. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

“Congressman Swalwell spoke to more than 1,000 town hall attendees for approximately 90 minutes on Tuesday in Sacramento,” said Micah Beasley, a spokesman for the Swalwell campaign. He added, “After that, he met with the media to answer their questions.”

Swalwell was unable to attend Wednesday’s candidate forum due to prior commitments, but he had met with the group previously, Beasley added.

Villaraigosa’s social media post referenced a series of accusations circulated by former Democratic congressional staffer, attorney Cheyenne Hunt and other left-leaning politicians who claimed, without evidence, that Swalwell made sexual advances toward women working in his office.

The allegations threaten to upend California’s gubernatorial primary, where Swalwell is vying to be among the top two vote-getters who advance to the general election in November. The crowded field also includes Steve Hilton, the former Trump-backed Fox News host, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a billionaire progressive. Tom Steyer.

Former Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., another candidate in the race, called the allegations “troubling” and said she was committed to supporting the accusers, who have not yet been identified.

“These are the stories these women need to tell when they’re ready, and I hope they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so,” Porter told CNN on Tuesday. “I believe in women. I think that should be the starting point here. So when these women speak up, I’ll be there, to help amplify their truths.”

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Rep. Eric Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing, and his campaign called the sexual misconduct allegations “outrageous.” (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing, which has characterized his campaign Sexual misconduct allegations deemed ‘outrageous’ He implied that the defendants were associated with MAGA.

Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change, said she is working with several women to publicize their allegations against Swalwell. Hunt has provided no verifiable evidence to support the allegations, and no women have yet come forward.

Hunt claimed that “the Democratic candidate currently leading the California governor’s race has a known history of assaulting women.” In a post on social media In March.

She posted a photo of a direct message sent to her privately containing an allegation against Swalwell.

“You know, Eric Swalwell slept with several of his interns and made them all sign (non-disclosure agreements) so they wouldn’t talk, right? And when I was 19, he tried to attack me and sneak into my direct messages,” the quote read.

Bhavik Lathia, a Democratic activist, also called on his party to take the allegations against Swalwell “seriously.”

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco (left) and business leader Steve Helton (right), both Republicans, were ranked as the top candidates for California governor in a recent Berkeley IGS poll. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images; Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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“Hey, I just got off the phone with a trusted friend. This is real. Take this seriously. Eric Swalwell cannot be our nominee. There will be a lot more coming soon. I can’t say more now, but stay tuned,” Lathia wrote on social media on Monday.

Swalwell, 45, has served in the House of Representatives since 2013, where he has emerged as a frequent critic of Trump. Launch a campaign in late 2025 to achieve success Governor Gavin Newsom, Democrat of California, As the next governor of the Golden State.