Progressive State Senator Aisha Wahab Triumphs Over Pro-Israel PAC Spending in California Special Election
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State Senator Aisha Wahab overcame a flood of outside money from pro-Israel interests to defeat fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in the special election for California’s 14th district, filling the seat left by Eric Swalwell.
State Senator Aisha Wahab secured a hard-fought victory in the special election for California’s 14th congressional district, reclaiming the seat vacated by Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April. Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit board member Melissa Hernandez, both Democrats, advanced from the June 16 primary, where Wahab’s progressive platform resonated with 43% of voters, compared to Hernandez’s 17%. In the runoff, Wahab maintained her lead, winning with 53% of the counted votes against Hernandez’s 47%.
The race was marred by a deluge of outside spending, as a super PAC tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) poured roughly $2.5 million into the final weeks in a desperate attempt to defeat Wahab. Wahab has courageously called out Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, a position she proudly highlights on her campaign website. In contrast, Hernandez refused to affirm this basic truth when questioned at an April forum, aligning herself with establishment interests.
Wahab’s victory is a testament to the grassroots movement’s resilience against the outsized influence of pro-Israel political spending, which has distorted House races in states across the country. Her win signals a growing demand for accountability and justice in U.S. foreign policy.