Afghanistan Peace CampaignAisha Wahab has won a special election for California’s 14th Congressional District, becoming the first person of Afghan descent elected to the US Congress, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Wahab, a progressive Democrat and California state senator, defeated Melissa Hernandez in Tuesday’s election to fill the seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied the allegations.
The victory marks another historic milestone for Wahab. She previously became the first Muslim and first Afghan American elected to the California state Senate. Born in New York to Afghan immigrant parents, the 39-year-old has emerged as a prominent progressive voice in California politics.
Wahab had already built a substantial lead over Hernandez in the June nonpartisan primary, finishing more than 25 percentage points ahead. Her campaign nevertheless faced significant outside spending, with super PACs spending at least $5 million in recent weeks to oppose her, according to Politico. At least $3 million of that spending was linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), largely through efforts supporting Hernandez.
Hernandez, a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board and former mayor of Dublin, California, campaigned heavily on affordability, public safety and housing. She will face Wahab again in November, when voters will choose a representative for a full congressional term.
Wahab’s campaign has been closely associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She has expressed support for Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaires, abortion rights and immigration policy changes, and has called for an end to US military assistance to Israel while expressing support for Palestinian rights.
Foreign policy was not the central focus of the special-election campaign. Wahab has previously described the situation in Gaza as a genocide and co-authored a 2025 California Senate resolution calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The election also comes amid a broader debate over women’s representation in Congress. Political scientist Meredith Conroy of California State University, San Bernardino, said Swalwell’s departure removed the significant incumbency advantage that often presents a structural obstacle for women seeking congressional office.