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Aisha Wahab Wins Special Election to Fill Eric Swalwell’s House Seat

Outside pro‑Israel spending failed to change the outcome, leaving Wahab to serve the remainder of the term and to face the same opponent in November in a slightly redrawn district.

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California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell speaks during the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco on Feb. 21, 2026.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab, the Democratic victor for Congress in California's 14th district
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Overview

  • Wahab was projected the winner on Thursday after post‑election counts showed her ahead roughly 53% to 47%, and she will serve the remainder of Swalwell’s term through January.
  • Her victory makes her the first Afghan American to serve in the U.S. Congress and completes a political rise from foster care to state senator.
  • Groups linked to AIPAC and affiliated super PACs poured millions into late ad buys to boost Melissa Hernandez and attack Wahab but narrowed the margin without overtaking Wahab’s lead.
  • The campaign was shaped by differences over Israel‑Palestine, Democratic factional endorsements, and ongoing federal investigative activity connected to Swalwell that continues to hang over the seat.
  • Wahab and Hernandez will meet again on Nov. 3 for a full two‑year term in a district slightly altered to add about 26,000 Dublin voters, a change that both campaigns say could affect turnout and the rematch.