Wahab beat Melissa Hernandez to fill Eric Swalwell’s vacant seat as California’s 14th District representative
Today at 6:48 p.m. EDT
Democrat Aisha Wahab, a California state senator, won a Tuesday special runoff to take former congressman Eric Swalwell’s seat in the House, overcoming a late intervention by the pro-Israel lobby that spent millions of dollars to oppose her. The race was called Thursday.
Wahab’s opponent, fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez, was boosted by spending from groups tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Wahab will serve the remainder of Swalwell’s term until January.
Wahab and Hernandez, a transportation official in the San Francisco Bay Area, will face off again in November to compete for a full two-year term.
In this article
Live results
Intense outside spending
Swalwell’s exit
Across the country this year, AIPAC has poured money into congressional races to support candidates who are supportive of Israel and defeat those who are critical. Its spending in the California runoff brought national attention to the race and a reminder of the Democratic Party’s broader struggle over Israel.
In April, multiple women accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, and one woman alleged he had sexually assaulted her. Facing those allegations and mounting pressure from national and California Democrats, Swalwell, then a seven-term congressman, dropped his bid for California governor April 12.
The next day, Swalwell said he would resign from Congress. His exit created a vacant Democratic seat in Congress.
In California, the top two vote-getters in primaries advance regardless of party affiliation. Wahab and Hernandez emerged from separate June primaries to serve out the remainder of Swalwell’s term and to compete for the full term.
Intense outside spending
Swalwell’s exit
Live results
Intense outside spending
The special election between Hernandez and Wahab attracted little attention until its final weeks, when it suddenly drew millions in outside spending — most notably from the super PAC of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The powerful pro-Israel lobby’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, spent nearly $2.5 million to boost Hernandez starting in August with two weeks until the runoff.Across the country this year, AIPAC has poured money into congressional races to support candidates who are supportive of Israel and defeat those who are critical. Its spending in the California runoff brought national attention to the race and a reminder of the Democratic Party’s broader struggle over Israel.
Swalwell’s exit
In April, multiple women accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, and one woman alleged he had sexually assaulted her. Facing those allegations and mounting pressure from national and California Democrats, Swalwell, then a seven-term congressman, dropped his bid for California governor April 12.
The next day, Swalwell said he would resign from Congress. His exit created a vacant Democratic seat in Congress.
In California, the top two vote-getters in primaries advance regardless of party affiliation. Wahab and Hernandez emerged from separate June primaries to serve out the remainder of Swalwell’s term and to compete for the full term.
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