Democratic Sen. Aisha Wahab Wins Special Election in California

Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab has been projected by NBC News to win the special election in California’s 14th District. She will complete the remaining term of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April following allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.

Wahab faced Melissa Hernandez, a fellow Democrat and member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors, in the special election. The two advanced to a direct contest after neither secured a majority vote in the June 16 primary. Despite a late influx of external funding for Hernandez, Wahab emerged victorious.

In the June primary, Wahab secured 43% of the vote compared to Hernandez’s 17%. Tuesday’s election results were tighter, with Wahab leading 53% to 47% with 95% of the expected votes counted.

A super PAC linked to the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) invested significantly in the race’s final weeks, spending around $2.5 million opposing Wahab. Wahab has accused AIPAC-related dark-money PACs of undermining her campaign, citing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. In contrast, Hernandez refrained from acknowledging genocide when asked during an April forum.

This election adds to the ongoing pattern of races influenced by substantial spending from the pro-Israel group. While some candidates supported by AIPAC funds have achieved victories in states like Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland, others have faced defeats. Notably, Democrat Haley Stevens, backed by extensive AIPAC-linked funding, lost her Senate primary in Michigan against former public health official Abdul El-Sayed.