State Sen. Aisha Wahab, a Democratic candidate for Congress in California's 14th district, speaks during a primary election night event on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Hayward, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Democrat Aisha Wahab has won the special election to serve the rest of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s House term.
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The Associated Press called the race Thursday evening.
Wahab defeated Bay Area Rapid Transit Board President Melissa Hernandez, also a Democrat, on Thursday. The pair will face off again in November. California holds jungle primaries, in which the top two candidates advance to the general election regardless of political affiliation.
Wahab, the first Afghan American to serve in Congress, is a progressive Democrat and served in the California state Senate. Her campaign focused on affordable housing, protecting Medicare, banning congressional stock trading and supporting small businesses.
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Swalwell, who was once a leading contender in the California governor’s race, dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress amid sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
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