Progressive state Sen. Aisha Wahab won a contentious special election on August 20, 2026, for California’s 14th Congressional District, defeating moderate BART board member Melissa Hernandez. Wahab secured 53% of the vote, overcoming millions in outside spending by super PACs to become the nation’s first Afghan American member of Congress.
The Associated Press called the race after Alameda County elections officials released updated results on Thursday afternoon, showing Wahab leading 53.1% to 46.9% in a closely watched contest.
The victory allows Wahab to run as an incumbent in the November 3 general election, where she will face Hernandez again for a full two-year term representing a redrawn district.
Overcoming Millions in Outside Super PAC Spending
The special election drew heavy outside spending, particularly from pro-Israel groups that sought to counter Wahab’s progressive platform. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee poured millions into ads supporting Hernandez and attacking Wahab. Track Aipac reported that the lobby spent nearly $6.4m to support Hernandez, The Guardian noted. Additional disclosures showed that AIPAC’s super PAC arm, the United Democracy Project, injected $2.4 million into the race, alongside $1.5 million contributed earlier this year to BOLD America, a separate super PAC that spent over $2 million to help Hernandez.
Despite the influx of attack ads, Wahab maintained that her grassroots campaign resonated more with local voters than outside money.
“This victory belongs to the voters who made clear that our district cannot be bought.”
State Sen. Aisha Wahab, via Los Angeles Times
Roots of the Special Election: Swalwell’s Resignation
The vacancy occurred after Swalwell resigned from the seat and dropped his bid for California governor in April in the face of multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell has denied the allegations. Gov. Gavin Newsom subsequently called the June 16 special election to fill the remaining months of the term.
In the special election primary, Wahab finished first with 43% of the vote, while Hernandez trailed in second with 17%. Although Wahab was widely considered the frontrunner and held the backing of the state Democratic Party, labor unions, and local officials, the race tightened in the final weeks. The contest escalated further when Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of California’s Democratic delegation, endorsed Hernandez, criticizing Wahab for resisting efforts to install a caretaker placeholder in Congress.
Progressive Praise and the Model for Future Races
Progressive groups celebrated the outcome as a major victory against corporate and special-interest spending in Democratic primaries. Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution—a group founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders—argued that the race provided a clear lesson for campaigns nationwide.
“Big money can buy television ads, mailboxes and endless attacks. It cannot buy the trust built through thousands of conversations between neighbors. That is the model: Unite the movement, organize everywhere, and make billionaire money fight us on our terrain.”
Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution, via Los Angeles Times
Meanwhile, Hernandez emphasized her performance in closing the polling gap and pointed out that the newly drawn district lines will incorporate more than 26,000 voters in Dublin, where she previously served as mayor and city council member.
“In just 63 days, we closed a gap from 26,000 to 6,000 votes by sharing our message of lowering housing costs, creating jobs, and supporting strong public safety.”
Melissa Hernandez, candidate for California’s 14th Congressional District, via KQED
The November Rematch Ahead
With her victory in the special election, Wahab becomes the first Afghan American member of Congress, adding to her historic milestone in 2022 as the first Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to the California state legislature. However, the respite will be brief for both campaigns.
Wahab and Hernandez will square off again on November 3, 2026, competing in a broader electorate across the redrawn East Bay district for a full two-year congressional term beginning in 2027.
