Aisha Wahab has won California’s 14th Congressional District seat, defeating BART Board President Melissa Hernandez after an especially bitter political contest. The outcome puts Wahab in the seat representing Dublin, Fremont, Hayward and Livermore, communities previously represented in Congress by Eric Swalwell.
The race followed Swalwell’s resignation after several women accused him of sexual assault. Wahab and Hernandez, both Democrats, competed for the congressional seat in the June primary as well. Wahab defeated Hernandez in that earlier election before winning their subsequent contest for the district.
Wahab is California’s first Afghan American congressional representative. Her experience in elected office includes service in the California Senate and on the Hayward City Council. Those roles preceded her move to Congress, where she now represents a district that includes the city in which she served on the council.
During the campaign, Wahab put forward a more progressive platform that included expanding social safety net programs and strengthening protections for renters. She also emphasized social justice issues. Her proposals included support for small businesses through efforts to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles they face.
Hernandez highlighted similar goals while placing greater emphasis on a business-friendly approach. In addition to serving as president of the BART board, she is a former mayor of Dublin, one of the cities in the congressional district. She also currently works for Alameda County Supervisor Dave Haubert.
The candidates’ approaches to business were among the differences in how they presented their priorities. Wahab’s pledge to cut bureaucratic obstacles for small businesses accompanied her calls for broader social programs and renter protections. Hernandez emphasized her business-friendly stance while campaigning on goals similar to those outlined by her opponent.
The campaign took a contentious turn during an October debate, when Hernandez made a cryptic reference to Wahab having had “communications” with the Taliban. The remark brought that allegation into a contest between two Democratic candidates whose campaign priorities otherwise included similar goals.
Wahab responded at the time by expressing disappointment in Hernandez’s comment. She said her constituents were “disgusted in seeing these types of hate.” The exchange was part of the bitter campaign that ended with Wahab’s victory over the BART board president.
