SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab won the special election Thursday to complete the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term and will represent California’s 14th Congressional District through January.
Seat fills out term as investigations continue
The victory closes a months-long process set in motion when Swalwell, who had been running for governor, suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after being accused of sexual assault and harassment — allegations he denies. Federal agents have since executed searches and seized electronic devices connected to Swalwell as part of ongoing inquiries, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Wahab, a progressive state senator who has roots in the East Bay, will take the oath to serve the district that includes parts of Alameda County on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay. Her win also carries historic significance: she will be the first Afghan American to serve in Congress.
Race dynamics and spending
The special election followed a June primary in which Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit director Melissa Hernandez advanced to a head-to-head contest after no candidate achieved a majority. The final ballot was closer than the primary, reflecting an intensified period of outside spending and sharp messaging from competing interests in the race’s closing weeks.
Wahab faced a late surge of opposition spending from groups aligned with pro-Israel interests. A super PAC connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent roughly $2.5 million against her in the campaign’s final stretch, focusing on her public criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza. Wahab had called Israel’s actions genocide, a stance that drew political attacks and was at the center of the outside spending effort.
"I will fight for this district that raised me. From foster care to Congress, this journey shows the possibility of the American Dream," Wahab said in a statement after the projected victory.
Vote totals and what the results show
With the vast majority of ballots counted, Wahab carried the day, reversing a primary margin in which she held a larger plurality. The results reflect the district’s Democratic tilt and voters’ willingness to select a candidate with a progressive record despite intensive negative outside spending.
| Stage | Wahab | Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| June primary | 43% | 17% |
| Final special election (approx. 95% counted) | 53% | 47% |
Observers noted that Hernandez benefited from a late infusion of money and targeted messaging, narrowing the margin considerably from the primary. Still, Wahab’s campaign framed the outcome as a rejection of outside influence and a validation of her policy priorities.
Policy background and local impact
Wahab built her political profile in the Bay Area, first winning a Hayward City Council seat in 2018 and later serving in the state Senate. In Sacramento and on the campaign trail, she emphasized housing affordability, access to services, and protections for marginalized communities. In 2023 she authored a bill to prohibit caste-based discrimination — a measure that drew national attention and a veto from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued existing law already covered such discrimination.
Her arrival in Washington, even for a short term, offers the district immediate representation on federal matters. Because she will serve only through the end of Swalwell’s term in January, the seat will be on voters’ radar again in the regular November general election cycle, when the district’s voters will select who will serve the next full term.
What comes next
Wahab will be sworn in to finish the term and can begin constituent services and casework for residents of the 14th District. Her brief tenure in Congress will overlap with the early part of the next congressional session, and she may use the months ahead to press her priorities and build a congressional record should she seek a full term.
- Historic milestone: Wahab becomes the first Afghan American in the U.S. Congress.
- Short term: She will serve through January, completing Swalwell’s term.
- Outside spending: Roughly $2.5 million from an AIPAC-linked super PAC targeted Wahab in the closing weeks.
The special election outcome resolves who will represent parts of the East Bay for the remainder of the congressional term but also sets the stage for continuing debate in the district over foreign policy positions, outside political spending and the direction of Democratic politics in the Bay Area.
Kevin Nakamura is the state correspondent for WE NEWS in Sacramento.
