The reaction many Democrats and Republicans had to Rep. Eric Swalwell suspending his campaign for California governor on Sunday after a slew of sexual assault allegations was essentially the same — what took so long?
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and leading Republican candidate in the race, said his exit was inevitable and questioned why he entered the contest in the first place.
“It just shows you the disgusting arrogance of these career politicians — they have total contempt for the voters, assuming they can do whatever they want and get away with it,” Hilton told The Post via email.
“Even worse is the sickening hypocrisy of the Democrat elite in California,”
Hilton alleged prominent Democrats and labor groups were aware of the situation, claiming endorsements and financial support continued despite what he described as an “open secret on Capitol Hill and Sacramento.”
He specifically criticized Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff, teacher unions and the SEIU, accusing them of “fake outrage and condemnation.”
“California is ruled by a corrupt Democrat cabal that is collapsing into chaos, sleaze and scandal,” Hilton said.
“The Swalwell Stink is on the entire corrupt Democrat machine in California.”
Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party, issued a statement to The Post saying that Swalwell had “finally done the right thing by ending his campaign for Governor.”
“Swalwell’s reprehensible actions confirmed he is unqualified and unfit to seek or hold public office in California,” Hicks said in a statement. “I hope that Swalwell is held accountable for his actions and the courageous victims and survivors who have come forward receive the justice they deserve.”
Swalwell’s name cannot be removed from the June 2 primary election ballot, so Hicks said he is calling on Democrats to avoid voting for the congressman because “he is unfit for public office and receives as little support as possible at the ballot box.”
Assemblymember James Gallagher, a Republican from Yuba City who’s running to succeed the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa in the House, said he was “curious” what Swalwell intends to do after suspending his campaign.
“I hope it means he’s quitting the campaign, but next he needs to resign from Congress,” Gallagher said. He added, “And if he doesn’t resign, I believe he’ll be kicked out along with Rep. Tom Gonzalez.”
Gonzalez, a Republican from Texas, is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee over sexual misconduct allegations, according to Axios.
Gallagher said that Swalwell’s supporters could break out across the crowded field of Democrats still in the race.
“We could be looking at the top two being Republicans,” he said.
Eccentric billionaire Stephen Cloobeck, who has spent more than $1 million supporting Swalwell’s campaign, was so sickened by Swalwell’s actions that he told The Post on Sunday he is quitting the Democratic Party.
“F—ing tell everyone I’m a libertarian,” Cloobeck said in an exclusive interview. “F— you, Democrat Party. I’m a libertarian now.”
Larry Gerston, professor emeritus of political science at San José State University, told The Post that Swalwell’s decision to suspend his campaign “isn’t a surprise.”
“The fact that at least four women have accused him of inappropriate activity — and that his office in D.C. has supported those people and so many people on his camping have dropped out — it really leaves Swalwell no other choice.”
He added, “The only question now is when he will literally drop out.”
Gerston predicted that progressive billionaire Tom Steyer and former congresswoman Katie Porter would likely pick up the most votes if Swalwell follows through in ending his campaign.
“Why? Because I think their politics are closer — they overlap with Swalwell’s more than any of the other candidates,” Gerston said.
“There’s also Xavier Becerra and Betty Yee, but they’re so far down the ladder [in the polls].”
Jason McDaniel, a political science professor at San Francisco State University, said that Swalwell’s suspension shows that Democrats took the allegations seriously.
“The practically unanimous calls by Democratic Party leaders for Swalwell to drop out show that they found the reported accusations to be very credible, and that the alleged behavior is unacceptable to Democratic Party officials and voters,” he said.
“This is a sign of party strength and is a stark contrast to the way that the Republican Party has often responded to similar accusations.”
