Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resign from Congress
California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress on Tuesday.
Both men have been accused of sexual misconduct and were about to face efforts by their colleagues to have them expelled from the House.
Their resignation letters were read aloud on the House floor.
Swalwell's resignation was effective at 2 p.m. ET, while Gonzales' will take effect at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Swalwell also suspended his campaign for governor of California this week amid the allegations, including allegations of sexual assault, which he's denied. Another woman came forward with allegations against Swalwell on Tuesday, just before he submitted his resignation letter.
"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me, however, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make," Swalwell wrote in his resignation letter.
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties," Swalwell added.
Gonzales dropped his reelection bid earlier this year after admitting to a relationship to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
"It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Texas’s 23rd district," Gonzales wrote in his short resignation letter.
The new party breakdown in the House after the resignations is 217 Republicans, including independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California who caucuses with the GOP and 213 Democrats.
Vacancies in the House are usually filled by special elections, which can occur even during a year where those same House seats are up for regular election.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday set a June 16 date for a special primary election for the 14th District seat that Swalwell held and an August 18 date for a special election to fill out the remainder of his term. A spokesperson for Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot did not immediately have guidance on the timing for a special election to fill Gonzales' seat.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to swear Rep.-elect Clay Fuller, a Georgia Republican, into office late Tuesday night -- pushing the GOP’s majority to 218 lawmakers, including Kiley.
ABC News' Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.
