- Aisha Wahab has been elected to Congress in a special election to fill the seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April.
- Wahab, a state senator, was widely considered the frontrunner in the district and had the backing of the state Democratic party and various local officials.
- In the first round of the special election, Wahab led Melissa Hernandez by 26 points in June.
- Two weeks prior, Wahab led by 21 points in the primary for a full two-year term.
- Super PACs spent more than $5 million on ads supporting Hernandez and attacking Wahab.
- AIPAC's super PAC arm injected nearly $2 million in advertising against Wahab, with another $1.9 million from BOLD America.
- CNN projected Wahab's victory in the special election runoff.
- Wahab and Hernandez are set for a rematch in November for the full term.
- Wahab's win comes amid a backdrop of increased AIPAC spending in Democratic primaries, reflecting rising anti-Israel sentiment within the party.
- The race intensified after Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren endorsed Hernandez, which was met with criticism from Wahab's supporters.
- Wahab, the first Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to the California legislature, campaigned on issues like affordable healthcare and childcare.
Aisha Wahab, a progressive state senator, has won the special election to fill the seat of former Rep. Eric Swalwell in California's 14th District, despite facing over $6 million in spending from AIPAC-backed super PACs. Wahab's victory, projected by CNN's Decision Desk, came after a contentious intra-party battle.12
Wahab, the first Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to the California legislature, led her opponent, Melissa Hernandez, by just over six points with 95% of votes counted. Earlier in the race, Wahab had a significant lead, winning the primary by more than 20 points.311
In her victory statement, Wahab expressed her commitment to the district, stating, “I will fight for this district that raised me... this journey shows the possibility of the American Dream.” Despite the heavy spending against her, she maintained strong support from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, labor unions, and local officials.
The race intensified after endorsements for Hernandez from prominent figures, including Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who criticized Wahab's stance on filling Swalwell's seat. Wahab described the super PACs' involvement as “election interference”, asserting they attempted to buy the seat.
Wahab's campaign focused on making healthcare and childcare more affordable, preventing corporate price-gouging, and protecting safety net programs. She will face Hernandez again in November for a full two-year term.
“Wahab, the first Muslim woman and Afghan American in the California legislature, led Hernandez by just over six points with 95% of votes counted, a much closer race than expected. She will serve until the new Congress in 2027, and the two will have a rematch in November for the full term.”
The Guardian
