California Governor Gavin Newsom to hold special election for vacant congressional seat

A special election has been set for August 2026 to fill the vacant congressional seat left by Representative Eric Swalwell, according to a statement from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The election will be held in Swalwell’s congressional district.

Newsom announced the date of the special election during an event at the California Democratic Party headquarters. He stated that the election would provide voters with an opportunity to choose a new representative for the district.

The vacant seat was created when Swalwell resigned from Congress due to allegations made against him by a woman who claimed he had raped her in 2018. The incident occurred while Swalwell was running for re-election, and it led to his resignation from the House of Representatives.

Swalwell has denied the allegations, stating that they were “completely false” and that he never engaged in any non-consensual activity with the woman. However, the incident has sparked a wider conversation about sexual misconduct in politics and the need for greater accountability among elected officials.

The special election will be held on August 2026, and voters will have the opportunity to choose from a pool of candidates who are vying for the seat. The winner of the election will take office immediately after the election is held.

Source: Google News World