Aisha Wahab Wins Special Election for California’s 14th Congressional District
State Senator Aisha Wahab has won a special election for California's 14th Congressional District in the East Bay, a seat previously held by Eric Swalwell. Wahab, a progressive Democrat, defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez. This victory allows Wahab to run…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, August 20, 2026 —
State Senator Aisha Wahab has secured victory in a special election for California’s 14th Congressional District, a seat representing parts of the East Bay. The district was previously held by Representative Eric Swalwell.
Wahab, a progressive Democrat, ran against and defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez. This special election win positions Wahab to run as an incumbent in the upcoming November election, where she will seek a full term in Congress.
The special election campaign was characterized by notable levels of outside spending. Reports indicate that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was a significant spender, supporting Melissa Hernandez’s campaign.
Wahab’s victory is historic, marking her as the first Afghan American to be elected to the United States Congress. Her win adds to the diversity of representation in the federal legislative body.
The 14th Congressional District encompasses areas within the East Bay region of California. Further details regarding the vote count or the specific timeline of the special election were not provided in the available information.
Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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