Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) firmly denied allegations of sexual assault that emerged on Friday, as calls mount for the lawmaker to drop his campaign for California governor.

A former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice when she was too drunk to consent, in an account first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Another report from CNN included three additional women who accused the California Democrat of sexual misconduct, including sharing unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos with them.

In a video statement shared on social platform X late Friday, Swalwell called the assault claims 'flat false.'

'They are absolutely false. They did not happen,' the Democratic candidate said. 'They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.'

What the Left Is Saying

California Sen. Adam Schiff (D), who was a key supporter, said he was 'deeply distressed' by the allegations. 'This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously,' Schiff wrote on X. 'I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.'

Democratic House leadership also called the sexual assault allegations 'incredibly disturbing' in a joint letter posted on X and called for an investigation. They also pressed the lawmaker to end his gubernatorial bid.

'This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously,' wrote House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.). 'We commend the courageous women for sharing our experiences. In this and all circumstances, we must ensure that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault are heard and respected. All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.'

Progressive activists and women's rights organizations have also called for a thorough investigation into the claims. Several Democratic strategists noted that the party's stance on believing survivors has created political pressure on Swalwell to address the allegations directly and transparently.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative critics have pointed to what they describe as a double standard in how Democrats handle allegations against their own members versus Republicans. Republican National Committee spokesperson Sarah Fortney said in a statement that the allegations 'raise serious questions about the Democratic Party's commitment to accountability.'

Fortney added: 'When Republicans face similar allegations, Democrats demand immediate resignation. We expect the same standard to apply here.'

GOP lawmakers have also called on Swalwell to suspend his campaign pending a full investigation. Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley wrote on X that 'Democrats cannot pick and choose when to believe survivors based on party affiliation.'

Conservative commentators have noted that Swalwell's denial mirrors language used by other figures facing similar allegations, and are closely watching whether party leaders will maintain pressure for him to exit the race entirely.

What the Numbers Show

Swalwell was considered the frontrunner in the California governor's race prior to the allegations emerging. A poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California in March showed Swalwell with 22% support among likely Democratic primary voters, ahead of other candidates including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The campaign has lost significant institutional support since the allegations became public. Several top staffers quit shortly before the Chronicle's story broke, according to Politico. A pro-Swalwell expenditure committee announced it would end its operations.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other national Democrats have not issued public statements on the matter as of Friday evening. The California Democratic Party had not announced any change to its formal endorsement as of publication time.

The Bottom Line

The allegations against Swalwell have created a significant political crisis for his gubernatorial campaign at a critical moment in the race. While he has denied the claims and indicated he will 'fight them,' he did not explicitly address whether he is considering withdrawing from the race.

Key party leaders including Sen. Schiff and House Democratic leadership have called for him to exit the race, creating substantial pressure on the candidate. The coming days will likely determine whether Swalwell can maintain enough support to remain viable or whether the allegations prove fatal to his campaign.

The candidate apologized to his wife and supporters in his Friday video message and said he would spend the next week with friends and family. He has not scheduled any public campaign events as of publication.