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· collected 2026-08-21 · by Jose Fabian, Carlos E. Castañeda
State Sen. Aisha Wahab has been projected to win a special election to serve out the remainder of Eric Swalwell's term in California's 14th Congressional District until January 2027. Wahab's lead over Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez has grown, making her victory insurmountable with remaining votes still needing to be counted. Outside groups spent more than $4 million on the race, with about $3.7 million going to Hernandez's campaign, but Wahab claims voters saw through "false rhetoric" and voted for her. Wahab will face Hernandez again in November when voters choose who will carry out the next full term in the redrawn 14th District.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Aisha Wahab, a progressive state senator from California, has won the special election to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April amid allegations of sexual assault. Wahl beat out Melissa Hernandez, a fellow Democrat and president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board, with 53% of the vote compared to Hernandez's 47%. The special election was held on Tuesday, and Wahab will serve out the remaining months of Swalwell's term until January 2027. Wahl has been critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, calling them "genocide", which may have contributed to the heavy spending by outside groups, including a pro-Israel super PAC that spent $2.5 million against her. Wahab's victory is seen as a significant win for progressive Democrats and could signal a shift in the party's direction.
Written for “California Congressional Election” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 1802 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-31
In a special election, Bay Area voters have chosen state Sen. Aisha Wahab to carry out the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's term, The Associated Press projects.
asserted
Press → choose → term
Wahab will represent California's 14th Congressional District until January 2027.
asserted
Wahab → represent → January
New vote totals from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters indicate Wahab's lead over Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez has grown and is insurmountable with the remaining votes still needing to be counted.
asserted
votes → indicate → Hernandez
The seat was left vacant after
from Congress in April, following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied.
asserted
he → leave → that
The race to finish Swalwell's term attracted attention from outside groups, including some affiliated with the pro-Israel lobbying organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
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race → finish → organization
The AIPAC-backed super political action committee United Democracy Project spent $1.2 million this month in support of Hernandez and in opposition to Wahab, according to Federal Election Commission records.
uncertain
committee → back → records
Outside groups spent more than $4 million on the race since last month, with about $3.7 million going to Hernandez's campaign.
"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," Wahab told CBS News Bay Area on Thursday.
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Wahab → spend → Thursday
Voters in Alameda County will have to vote for the same seat in November to decide who will carry out the next full term.
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who → have → term
Hernandez told CBS News Bay Area she likes her chances in the November rematch for a redrawn 14th District that includes 26,000 more voters.
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that → tell → voters
"I will gain Dublin back, the city I was mayor in, seeing that I will be able to gain thousands more voters there," Hernandez said.
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Hernandez → gain → voters
"Our team has done an amazing job to be able to close a gap by 20 points.
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team → do → points
I think folks need to remember that."
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folks → think → that
Early voting and vote-by-mail begin on Oct. 5 for the general election.
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voting → begin → election
Wahab was elected to the California Senate in 2022 representing the 10th District, which covers parts of the East Bay Area and Silicon Valley, including the cities of Hayward, Fremont, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Santa Clara.
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which → elect → Hayward
