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

NBC News • August 20, 2026 • nation

Key Points:

Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab won the special election for California’s 14th District, filling the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term after his resignation amid sexual assault allegations.
Wahab defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in a close runoff, securing 53% of the vote compared to Hernandez’s 47% with 95% of votes counted.
A pro-Israel super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent approximately $2.5 million opposing Wahab in the final weeks of the race.
Wahab has publicly accused Israel of committing genocide in its conflict with Hamas, while Hernandez did not affirm this characterization during a candidate forum.
The election reflects broader influence by pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, which have recently invested millions in key races across several states with mixed success.

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