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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell has suspended his run for California politician pursuing intersexual battle allegations, announcing the determination Sunday arsenic scrutiny intensified astir the Democratic superior race.
In a statement, Swalwell said helium would measurement speech to code the claims.
"To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I americium profoundly atrocious for mistakes successful judgement I've made successful my past. I volition combat the serious, mendacious allegations that person been made - but that's my fight, not a campaign's."
MORE: Rep. Eric Swalwell suspends run for CA politician amid intersexual battle allegations
The suspension instantly reshaped a intimately watched contention successful which Swalwell had held a constrictive pb among Democrats.
Criticism of Swalwell has circulated successful Washington for years, according to erstwhile House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who spoke connected ABC's "This Week."
"Every subordinate successful Congress knows not to fto immoderate young staffer astir Swalwell oregon Matt Gaetz, it's not a concealed there," McCarthy said.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said the allegations were not unexpected, citing longstanding speech among Democratic leaders.
"No, I'm not amazed frankly due to the fact that determination person been rumors aft rumors aft rumors, his workfellow successful Washington beauteous overmuch said that. That's what Adam Schiff said, that's what Nancy Pelosi said," Brown said.
California Rep. Eric Swalwell is denying intersexual battle allegations, says helium won't driblet retired of governor's contention pursuing SF Chronicle's report.
Brown said Swalwell's exit leaves the tract unsettled, and helium has not yet decided who deserves his backing.
"I'm inactive trying to find idiosyncratic who mightiness beryllium capable to triumph and truthful acold I haven't recovered them," Brown said.
Political analysts said the fallout creates uncertainty for voters and enactment leaders alike.
"But close now, this is simply a mess. It's a messiness for the Democratic Party, and it's a messiness for California superior voters," said Daniel Schnur, who teaches governmental communications astatine UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
Schnur said the 2 contiguous beneficiaries of Swalwell's determination are Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, though some look obstacles. He said Steyer has drawn disapproval for his wealthiness and concern history, portion Porter's idiosyncratic benignant has sparked complaints.
"He's being attacked for making millions and millions of dollars for investing his wealth successful ways that astir Democrats find to beryllium perfectly unacceptable," Schnur said of Steyer.
MORE: Rep. Eric Swalwell's unit 'horrified,' issues connection pursuing intersexual battle allegations
"Porter is being criticized for being unpleasant," helium said. "I don't deliberation astir Californians privation an unpleasant governor, but of the two, it seems similar it mightiness beryllium an obstacle that is much apt to beryllium overcome."
Brown said erstwhile Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has the deepest acquisition successful the race, but that has not translated into beardown polling. He added that run finances whitethorn present play an outsized role.
"Money is opening to mean thing successful governmental races and erstwhile you can't rise it, you possibly astatine a unspeakable disadvantage," Brown said. "I deliberation each those democrats are present astatine a disadvantage due to the fact that Tom Steyer has much wealth than sin."
Swalwell's suspension leaves Democrats reassessing a contention that, until Sunday, appeared to person a wide front-runner, with the superior inactive months away.
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