Politics
Our political journalists are based in the Maine State House and have deep source networks across the partisan spectrum in communities all over the state. Their coverage aims to cut through major debates and probe how officials make decisions. Read more Politics coverage here.
Democratic congressional candidate Jordan Wood on Monday rejected a past endorsement from U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell and called on the California Democrat to resign after several women accused the congressman of sexual misconduct.
Wood, who is running for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, posted on X that he no longer acknowledged the endorsement from Swalwell, who withdrew from the California gubernatorial race Sunday after facing allegations of sexual misconduct and several staffers left his office and campaign.
Swalwell’s endorsement no longer appeared on Wood’s campaign website as of Monday morning. It was there when the page was last archived by The Wayback Machine in late March.
“The sexual assault allegations about Eric Swalwell are appalling, and I commend the courage and bravery of these women to come forward,” Wood said. “I believe the Congressman should resign from Congress. If he refuses, then the House should vote to expel him and Rep. Tony Gonzales in a bipartisan vote.”
Wood, aiming to replace the outgoing U.S. Rep. Jared Golden after leaving a U.S. Senate bid in the fall, said he would donate Swalwell’s campaign contribution to a food bank in the 2nd District.
Swalwell faces a rising number of calls to resign, with several Democrats saying they’d be willing to expel him.
The push followed CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle reporting that a former staffer had accused him of sexual assault, and at least three other women alleged sexual misconduct often tied to nights of heavy drinking. He has denied through an attorney that he ever had nonconsexual sex with anyone, or ever had sex with a staffer.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell said on X. “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.”
Wood faces a primary against State Auditor Matt Dunlap of Old Town, lawyer and state Sen. Joe Baldacci of Bangor and social worker Paige Loud of Old Town in a Democratic primary. Former Gov. Paul LePage is the only Republican on the ballot seeking to replace Golden.
