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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a proclamation setting a special election to replace Eric Swalwell, after the Democratic congressman resigned amid sexual assault allegations made against him.
Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday and resigned from Congress on Tuesday after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a former staffer alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, when she worked for him, and again in 2024 at a charity gala, when she was too intoxicated to consent, while CNN reported that three additional women accused him of misconduct including unsolicited explicit messages and inappropriate physical contact. Swalwell has denied all the allegations.
On Tuesday, a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, accused Swalwell of drugging and raping her during a 2018 encounter in Los Angeles. Swalwell, 45, declined to comment on the new allegations when reached via phone Tuesday afternoon. "I have no comment on anything — period — and I’m going to hang up now,” he told Newsweek during a brief interview.
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In his proclamation, Newsom, also a Democrat, set the special election to replace Swalwell for August 18, 2026.
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Why It Matters
The special election adds another contest to an already crowded midterms calendar as Democrats seek to defend their House seats and limit Republican gains.
While California is reliably Democratic and the seat Swalwell vacated is not considered competitive, temporary vacancies and off‑cycle elections can affect margins in a narrowly divided Congress.
What To Know
Newsom wrote in his proclamation: "I, Gavin Newsom, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim and order that a special election shall be held on the 18th day of August 2026, within the 14th Congressional District of the State, to fill the vacancy in the office of the U.S. House of Representatives from said district resulting from the resignation of Representative Eric Swalwell."
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the allegations against Swalwell, and the House Ethics Committee on Monday said it would be conducting its own investigation into "allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision."
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating allegations involving Eric Swalwell, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says prosecutors have been assigned to review the case, according to CBS News and The Hill.
California’s 14th Congressional District is considered safely Democratic, shaping expectations for the special election triggered by Swalwell’s resignation. The East Bay seat, which covers parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, has not elected a Republican to Congress since 1990 and has delivered large Democratic margins in recent House and presidential races. Those voting patterns mean the special election outcome is widely expected to favor Democrats, with the decisive contest likely taking place in the party’s primary rather than in the general election.
What People Are Saying
**Swalwell said in his resignation post on X: "**I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgement I've made in my past.
"I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
What Happens Next
After the August special election, a general election for the seat will be held in November.
Update, 04/15/2026, 4:41 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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