Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has lost every congressional endorsement backing his California gubernatorial campaign, with the final withdrawal coming Saturday from Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), according to Axios.
The collapse represents one of the fastest political reversals in recent memory. Within a 24-hour period, all 21 Democratic members of Congress who had previously endorsed Swalwell pulled their support, leaving his campaign without a single colleague's backing.
The withdrawals follow allegations of rape, sexual assault and misconduct leveled against Swalwell. He has denied the allegations.
From frontrunner to free fall
Swalwell had been considered among the leading candidates in the California governor's race before the allegations surfaced. The endorsements from two dozen congressional colleagues had bolstered his standing in what is expected to be a competitive Democratic primary.
The speed at which those endorsements evaporated signals how seriously Democratic officials are treating the allegations, even as Swalwell contests them. His fundraising page on the Democratic fundraising platform was also affected, according to Axios, adding further financial pressure to a campaign already in crisis.
Grijalva's withdrawal completes the collapse
Grijalva's decision to rescind her endorsement was the last in a wave of departures that stripped Swalwell of his entire congressional support base. No replacement endorsements have been announced.
The California governor's race, which draws national attention given the state's size and political influence, now moves forward without Swalwell as a viable frontrunner. Whether he will remain in the race has not been confirmed at the time of publication.
Swalwell has served in Congress since 2013 and previously mounted a brief presidential campaign in 2019. The gubernatorial bid had been seen as his most significant electoral ambition since that run.
The situation continues to develop. Axios first reported the withdrawal of Grijalva's endorsement and the broader collapse of congressional support for Swalwell's campaign.
