California lawmaker Aisha Wahab wins special election to suc...
Progressive Democrat Aisha Wahab has won a special election to represent California's 14th Congressional District, becoming the first Afghan American to serve in Congress. She succeeds Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid sexual assault allegations that are currently under federal investigation.
Why it matters
This election marks a historic milestone for Afghan American representation in U.S. politics while highlighting the ongoing legal fallout from the previous representative's scandal.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California state Sen. Aisha Wahab will serve out the rest of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's term after securing victory Thursday in a special election.
Swalwell, a Democrat who was running for California governor, ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment, which he denies. Wahab will represent the state’s 14th Congressional District, which covers parts of Alameda County on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, through Swalwell's term ending in January.
She will be the first Afghan American to serve in Congress. The progressive Democrat defeated Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez even after a swell of spending by outside groups opposing Wahab in the race's final stretch. She said her victory shows her district “cannot be bought.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in