California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell in San Francisco, California, on 21 February 2026. Photograph: Manuel Orbegozo/ReutersView image in fullscreenCalifornia gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell in San Francisco, California, on 21 February 2026. Photograph: Manuel Orbegozo/ReutersMove to expel Democrat Eric Swalwell from Congress gains steamPressure mounts on Californian, who denies rape claims, and on Texan Tony Gonzales, who had affair with staffer who died by suicide
A growing number of Congress members from both parties have called for Eric Swalwell, a Democratic US representative and candidate for California governor, to resign his seat this weekend, following reported allegations of inappropriate behavior, sexual assault and rape.
Swalwell has denied the allegations, but he may not get the chance to quit before his colleagues expel him. Polarized Congress members appear to be eyeing an opportunity to rid themselves of both Swalwell and disgraced Republican US representative Tony Gonzales of Texas, who acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican US representative from Florida, announced on Sunday that she intends to pair her resolution to expel Swalwell with one to expel Gonzales.
“He should step aside,” US representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, told Fox News of Swalwell. “What he did is sick and disgusting. There need to be consequences to that.”
Asked whether he would vote to expel Swalwell, Khanna indicated he was open to the idea if it were coupled with purging a similarly abhorrent Republican.
“I believe that he should resign and I believe that there are other members, and Republican members, who should resign as well,” Khanna said. “It depends on if it’s worded in a fair way. But this shouldn’t be about politics – anyone who abuses young girls and staffers should not be in the United States’ Congress.”
Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican US representative, told NBC News that he would vote to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales.
“These allegations are despicable and they demean the integrity of Congress. These things are just completely unacceptable. As far as I’m concerned, both gentlemen need to go home,” Donalds said.
Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democratic US representative, described Swalwell’s alleged behavior to NBC as part of a wider problem of powerful men abusing women that she called “a depravity” that “cuts across party lines” and is “clearly a pattern”. Asked whether she would vote to expel him, Jayapal said: “And congressman Gonzales – I would.”
Other members of Congress, including US representatives Eugene Vindman of Virginia and Jared Huffman of California, have called on Swalwell both to resign his seat in the House of Representatives and end his run for California governor.
At least four women have accused Swalwell of unwanted advances or sexual assault in a pair of reports published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. A former staffer said that Swalwell raped her in 2024 while she was too intoxicated to consent to sex. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has opened an investigation into that allegation.
Swalwell said the allegations were “flat false” in a video, in which he also apologized to his wife for “mistakes in judgment” that he described as a private matter between them. Swalwell’s attorney has threatened to sue one of his accusers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
