California state Senator Aisha Wahab has won the special election for the 14th Congressional District. She will serve the remainder of the term previously held by Eric Swalwell, which concludes in January. Wahab is the first Afghan American elected to serve in Congress.
Her victory follows a competitive race against BART Director Melissa Hernandez. Despite significant outside spending aimed at opposing her campaign, Wahab maintained her lead. She stated that her win proves the district is not for sale, emphasizing her background in foster care and her focus on the needs of her constituents.
Eric Swalwell resigned his seat in April amid ongoing investigations into sexual assault and harassment allegations. He remains the subject of federal scrutiny, with investigators recently seizing electronic devices from him and searching his residence in Washington, D.C.
Wahab previously made history in 2018 as the first Afghan American to win public office in the United States when she joined the Hayward City Council. Her legislative record includes a focus on housing access and affordability. She and Hernandez are scheduled to compete again in the November general election to determine who will hold the seat for the following full two-year term.