CA-GOV: Among LGBTQ Dems, no consensus on CA gov race

For queer and transgender Californians undecided on whom they want to be their next governor, they will find little help from the state’s major LGBTQ Democratic clubs on picking one of the contenders in the 2026 gubernatorial race. There is no consensus among the political groups about this year’s crop of candidates running to lead the Golden State.

One of the candidates who had attracted a fair amount of support from LGBTQ voters, particularly for being one of the few to voice strong backing for transgender rights, had been Congressmember Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin). But he suspended his campaign Sunday night following two explosive news reports in which a former staffer accused him of sexual assault, an allegation that Swalwell denies though the married father of three has admitted to “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”

Monday he announced he would resign from his congressional office as calls grew from LGBTQ leaders and fellow Democratic politicians for him not to serve out the remainder of his term through early January. (See related story.) A number of congressional members on both sides of the aisle had called to expel him, which in a statement Swalwell said would be “wrong” to do “without due process.” But he also said it would be “wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties.”

While an election is underway to succeed him in Congress, with his successor to be elected in November, voters will also elect someone to serve out the remainder of Swalwell’s term due to Governor Gavin Newsom Tuesday calling for a special election shortly after Swalwell officially resigned.



https://www.ebar.com/story/165167/News/Politics/Political%20Notebook%3A%20Among%20LGBTQ%20Dems%2C%20no%20consensus%20on%20CA%20gov%20race