Eric Swalwell exits California governor race apologizing for past judgment while denying claims

"I am suspending my campaign for Governor," Swalwell wrote. "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," he added.

The decision comes as pressure mounted over sexual assault allegations published in a bombshell report from the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, with lawmakers from both parties calling on him to drop out of the race and resign from Congress. 

Pelosi urged that consideration of the accusations against Swalwell take place outside the context of his campaign.

A number of other Democrats soon joined the former speaker's calls, with a handful rescinding previous endorsements of the campaign.

"I've read the San Francisco Chronicle's reporting, and I take it seriously," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a post to X.

"What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed," he added.

Despite initially remaining moot on the allegations, Swalwell's office broke its silence on the matter in comments made to the New York Post earlier this week.

With Swalwell exiting the race, the battle to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom becomes even more uncertain and turbulent ahead of the June 2 primary. Early voting will begin on May 4.Public opinion surveys indicated that Swalwell was the top polling Democrat in the race, ahead of former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer, who's flooded the airwaves with ads since declaring his candidacy in November. Both Porter and Steyer on Friday had called on Swalwell to suspend his gubernatorial campaign and resign from Congress.The crowded field of Democrats also includes former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.There are two major Republicans in the race: conservative commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.