Aisha Wahab Wins Swalwell House Seat Despite $2.5 Million AIPAC-Linked Push
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 18
Aisha Wahab Wins Swalwell House Seat Despite $2.5 Million AIPAC-Linked Push
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 18
Summary
Aisha Wahab won California’s special runoff for Eric Swalwell’s vacant House seat, with the race called Thursday after Tuesday’s vote.
Nearly $2.5 million from AIPAC-linked super PAC United Democracy Project flowed to boost Melissa Hernandez in the final two weeks, turning a low-profile contest into a national proxy fight over Israel within the Democratic Party.
Wahab, a Democratic state senator, will serve the remainder of Swalwell’s term through January, while Hernandez — a Bay Area transportation official — lost the short-term seat fight.
The same two Democrats will meet again in November for a full two-year term after advancing under California’s top-two system.
The vacancy opened after Swalwell resigned in April amid sexual misconduct allegations, ending his House tenure and triggering the special election.