Aisha Wahab Wins California 14th Seat After 2-Day Count Despite $2.5 Million AIPAC Push
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Aisha Wahab Wins California 14th Seat After 2-Day Count Despite $2.5 Million AIPAC Push
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Summary
Aisha Wahab defeated Melissa Hernandez in California’s special election to replace Eric Swalwell, with the race remaining too close to call for two days before ballot counting ended Thursday.
Wahab had led the June primary with 43% of the vote and entered as the front-runner, but the final contest tightened sharply in the suburbs east of San Francisco.
United Democracy Project, AIPAC’s super PAC, spent about $2.5 million largely attacking Wahab, even though neither candidate made foreign policy a central campaign issue.
The result extends a run of Democratic contests in which progressive candidates have beaten establishment-backed rivals, adding to signs that heavy pro-Israel outside spending is losing force in party primaries.
The special election was triggered by Swalwell’s April resignation amid sexual misconduct accusations.