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Image for Democrat Aisha Wahab wins the special election for Eric Swalwell’s former California district

Democrat Aisha Wahab wins the special election for Eric Swalwell’s former California district

NBC News · August 20, 2026

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Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab has won the special election in California’s 14th District, NBC News projects, and will serve out the remaining months of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term.

Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.

Wahab defeated Melissa Hernandez, a fellow Democrat who is on the Bay Area Rapid Transit board of directors, in the special election after the two got the most votes in the June 16 primary. The race moved to a one-on-one contest after no one secured a majority.

Wahab took 43% to Hernandez’s 17% in the initial primary, but Tuesday’s election was much closer. With 95% of the expected vote in, Wahab led 53% to 47%.

A super PAC aligned with the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent heavily in the race’s final weeks, dropping about $2.5 million against Wahab.

Wahab has said Israel’s con…