In a special election, state Senator Aisha Wahab has been elected by Bay Area voters to complete the remainder of former Representative Eric Swalwell's term, according to projections by The Associated Press. Wahab will serve California's 14th Congressional District until January 2027. Recent vote totals from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters show that Wahab's lead over Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez is significant enough to be considered insurmountable with the remaining votes still to be counted.
The congressional seat became vacant after Swalwell resigned in April amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. The election drew attention from various outside groups, particularly those linked to the pro-Israel lobbying organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The AIPAC-affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, reportedly spent $1.2 million this month supporting Hernandez and opposing Wahab, as per Federal Election Commission records.
Overall, outside groups have invested more than $4 million in the race, with approximately $3.7 million directed towards Hernandez's campaign. Wahab commented on the election, stating, "I am very proud of this district looking at the millions of dollars of outside money pouring in with false rhetoric, false narratives, and false records, and seeing through it and voting for me," in an interview with CBS News Bay Area.
Voters in Alameda County will have another opportunity to vote for the same seat in the upcoming general election in November, where the same candidates will appear on the ballot. Early voting and vote-by-mail options will begin on October 5, with Election Day scheduled for November 3. Wahab was previously elected to the California Senate in 2022, representing the 10th District, which includes parts of the East Bay Area and Silicon Valley, covering cities such as Hayward, Fremont, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara.