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Swalwell supporters scramble after he leaves governor's race. Who benefits?

Swalwell left the governor’s race and announced he would resign from Congress after allegations against him became public.

Swalwell supporters scramble after he leaves governor's race. Who benefits?
Image · Los Angeles Times

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Outlet credibilityLos Angeles Times84/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
tl;dr

After Eric Swalwell dropped out of California’s governor’s race and announced he would resign from Congress amid sexual assault allegations, supporters and endorsers began reassessing whom to back. Katie Porter and Tom Steyer are among the candidates the article identifies as potential beneficiaries.

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Eric Swalwell Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)
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Eric Swalwell
Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)

Representative and former candidate for California governor

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Katie Porter
Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)

Former representative and candidate for California governor

Porter's version of this story ↗
Jared Huffman
D · CA-2

Representative who endorsed Tom Steyer

Xavier Becerra
Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)

Former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and candidate for California governor

ALSO MENTIONED  Tom Steyer, Candidate for California governor; Betty Yee, Former California state controller and candidate for governor; Chad Bianco, Riverside County sheriff and Republican candidate for California governor; Eleni Kounalakis, California lieutenant governor and former candidate for governor; Harry Reid, Late former U.S. senator; Matt Mahan, San José mayor and candidate for California governor; Stephen Cloobeck, Democratic donor and former candidate for California governor; Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor; Antonio Villaraigosa, Former Los Angeles mayor and candidate for California governor; Toni Atkins, Former California state Senate president pro tempore and former candidate for governor

Part of a bigger story

29 OUTLETS
Eric Swalwell Resigns from Congress, Ends Governor Campaign

Outlets report that Eric Swalwell ended his California gubernatorial campaign and announced he would resign from Congress amid sexual-misconduct allegations he denies. Left-leaning outlets frame the departures as a call for accountability, highlighting lawmakers’ demands that he leave and Ruben Gallego’s regret over defending him. Center outlets largely track the allegations and their political fallout, including effects on the governor’s race, the vacant seat and Gallego’s response. Right-leaning outlets often argue that Democratic leaders knew of or protected Swalwell and frame the disclosures as political maneuvering; some also focus on his earlier due-process stance.

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