HAYWARD, Calif (Diya TV) — Aisha Wahab has won the special election for California’s 14th Congressional District, defeating Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez in a closely watched contest.
Wahab’s win comes after former Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress in April. Swalwell has denied allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.
The special election focused on housing, public safety, jobs and the future of the East Bay. Wahab has made housing affordability and access major parts of her political platform.
Wahab first gained national attention in 2023 after she introduced a bill that would have banned caste-based discrimination in California. The proposal drew attention across the country. However, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill. He said existing civil rights protections already prohibit such discrimination.
In 2018, Wahab won a seat on the Hayward City Council. Her victory made her the first Afghan American elected to public office in the United States. Now, her congressional victory marks another milestone for Afghan Americans in U.S. politics.
Groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, spent millions of dollars to support Hernandez. Those groups also spent thousands of dollars opposing Wahab.
Hernandez acknowledged the special election result while signaling that she plans to continue her campaign. In a statement Thursday, she said she had worked to reduce a 26,000-vote gap to about 6,000 votes in 63 days.
Hernandez highlighted her record as a mother, Dublin mayor and health care services director. She also pointed to her campaign focus on lowering housing costs, creating jobs and supporting public safety.
The November contest will also feature different district boundaries. Hernandez said the new lines will add about 26,000 Dublin voters who did not participate in the August special election. She argued that the larger electorate and new boundaries will give her campaign a stronger opportunity.
The race has attracted attention beyond the East Bay because of its connection to Swalwell’s departure from Congress. Federal authorities have also continued investigating allegations against him, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously because the investigation remains ongoing.
Over the weekend, federal agents reportedly seized electronic devices from Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport. Authorities later searched his home in Washington, D.C., the person said.
The investigation remains separate from the congressional election. Meanwhile, Wahab will begin preparing for her new role in Washington while also facing another campaign in November.
