Journalist says Swalwell’s behavior toward women was known in 2013

East Bay political journalist and author Steve Tavares said in a social media post Saturday that allegations about Eric Swalwell’s behavior toward women became widely known among local officials shortly after he entered Congress in 2013.

“Shortly after he was elected to Congress in 2013, his behavior toward women was known to all levels of our local government and the Alameda County Democratic Party,” Tavares wrote.

“I tried many times to get the stories public. I can’t force women to talk, and when they chose not to, I didn’t. I also knew Swalwell had threatened to sue.”

Swalwell has faced calls to withdraw from the race for governor of California and resign over sexual assault allegations made against him by former employees.

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Tavares also emphasized that he has been reporting on Swalwell for a long time.

“I have been following Eric Swalwell since he became a member of Dublin City Council,” Tavares wrote. “Don’t get me wrong. No one has been this critical of Swalwell in years.”

In a separate April 6 issue of “East Bay Insiders” newsletterTavares outlined what he described as challenges Swalwell faces closer to home, especially in Alameda County Democratic circles.

He wrote that Swalwell’s political stance in his base remained limited.

“For a candidate who could plausibly challenge for governor of the nation’s most powerful state, Eric Swalwell’s domestic support base is remarkably weak,” Tavares wrote.

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In explaining this dynamic, Tavares noted both ideological and personal factors.

“The reasons are both ideological and personal,” he wrote. “Despite his high-profile opposition to President Trump, most Democrats in Alameda County do not view Swalwell as a credible progressive.”

“Over time, his positions—his support for law enforcement, his past rhetoric on border security, and his unwavering support for Israel—have pushed him out of dominant politics in the deep blue East Bay,” he wrote.

Tavares also pointed to Swalwell’s early political campaigns as a source of ongoing tensions.

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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who is running for governor in California, faces criticism for receiving donations from individuals and organizations affiliated with the CCP. (Getty Images)

“Early in his congressional career, Swalwell unseated two respected local figures—Pete Stark and later Ellen Corbett—which, while politically successful, led to lasting resentment among longtime Democratic activists,” he wrote.

He added that these divisions have not completely disappeared over time. In addition, Tavares claimed that there is a perception that Swalwell is now less favored in his district since purchasing a home in Washington, D.C.

He also highlighted recent political endorsements as indicative of broader challenges to the California governorship.

“Recent endorsements underscore this challenge,” Tavares wrote, pointing to Assembly member Mia Bonta Rep. Ro Khanna’s endorsement of Tom Steyer for governor.

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“Taken together, Swalwell’s path to higher office may depend less on consolidating his home base and more on building a coalition elsewhere, an unusual and potentially risky strategy for a California gubernatorial candidate,” he wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s office and campaign, the Democratic National Committee and the California Democratic Party but did not immediately receive a response.