GOP Strategist Says Dems Are Having ‘Come-To-Jesus’ Moment After Swalwell Allegations | EUROtoday

Longtime Republican strategist Mike Madrid prompt the Democratic Party take an extended take a look at reevaluating the race for governor in California after 4 totally different ladies accused one of many main candidates, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), of sexual assault and misconduct on Friday.

“I think the Democratic Party really is having this come-to-Jesus moment where it needs to have a very robust discussion between as many candidates as possible to figure out what it is, what it stands for and who’s going to be the standard bearer,” he stated on CNN’s “Laura Coates Live.”

Madrid is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project, a bunch of Republicans shaped in 2019 to oppose President Donald Trump. He stated Democrats ought to have “a bigger discussion” after Friday’s allegations to determine which candidate they need “to start driving California forward.”

Host Laura Coates, a former prosecutor, famous Swalwell has been “steadfast” in denying the accusations and that persons are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible. However, she additionally stated the court docket of public opinion can have “a very different take” and impression Swalwell’s persevering with bid for governor.

Swalwell, who’s married with three kids and was among the many Democratic frontrunners to exchange outgoing California Gov. Gavin Newsom, denied the allegations in a social media video Friday, calling them “absolutely false” and apologizing to his spouse and supporters.

“Democrats were beginning to rally around his campaign and kind of back him as sort of this leader of the resistance as California Democratic leaders are kind of expected to be,” Madrid informed Coates. “But you’re asking the right question, which is, ‘What happens now?’”

He continued, “There are so many questions about the state of the Democratic Party in California. This is a state that should have three or maybe four future presidential aspirants running for governor, but there’s nothing even remotely like that.”

Swalwell was accused on Friday by 4 ladies in studies from The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. One stated he despatched her “inappropriate” messages in 2019, together with a photograph of his genitals. Another stated she was too drunk to consent when Swalwell sexually assaulted her.

Some of his largest backers have since dropped their endorsements and referred to as for his exit.

Madrid stated this does “open up” the sector of gubernatorial candidates in California and that “six or seven viable” figures may emerge over the subsequent few weeks, including it’s “unfortunate” that the state’s Democratic Party chair, Rusty Hicks, is “asking people to get out of the race.”

After making his case that the occasion is now reassessing its id forward of the elections in November, he urged California Democrats to “use this as an opportunity to open up and not narrow it down and try to predetermine who those candidates are going to be.”