SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on April 13 following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman, and announced plans to resign from Congress. The decision ended a bid mounted ahead of a June 2 primary in which more than 50 candidates will appear on the ballot.

"I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that's my fight, not a campaign's." Swalwell also said, "I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."

Swalwell wrote on X that it was unfair for his constituents to have him distracted from his duties. He is best known nationally as a House manager in Trump's second impeachment trial in early 2021, and did not have strong ties to Democrats outside his San Francisco Bay Area district.

A total of 150 candidates have submitted paperwork to run for California governor, with more than 50 qualifying for the June 2 primary ballot. Mail ballots will be sent to voters in early May, with mail-in voting scheduled to start in under a month.

Under California's top-two primary system, all candidates appear on a single nonpartisan ballot, and the top two finishers advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Democrats have feared that a large field of candidates could divide the party's vote and allow two Republicans to advance, locking the party out of the general election after years of running the state.

California Democratic Party polling shows Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton leading the race. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis have declined to run for governor. Gov. Gavin Newsom will term out as California governor after this year.