Eric Swalwell quits California governor race amid sexual misconduct claims

US Congressman Eric Swalwell has dropped out of the California governor race following growing pressure over sexual misconduct allegations. The Democrat has been accused by four women of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape. He has denied the claims and vowed to defend himself with "facts". Top allies had called on him to exit the gubernatorial race, in which he was projected as one of the frontrunners among Democratic candidates. His departure comes at a pivotal moment in the wide-open primary race, just weeks before voters receive postal ballots ahead of the 2 June election to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom and to lead the nation's most populous state. Swalwell said in a post on X: "I am suspending my campaign for governor. "To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made - but that's my fight, not a campaign's." Swalwell's decision to suspend his campaign comes two days after the first allegations emerged in the San Francisco Chronicle. A former staff member told the newspaper that Swalwell first began making inappropriate comments -