Afghan-American Ayesha Wahab Wins US Congress Seat, Defeating Pro-Israel Candidate

Afghan-American Democrat Ayesha Wahab has won a special election in California’s 14th Congressional District, defeating fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez and becoming the first Afghan-American elected to the US Congress.

Wahab secured more than 53% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, while Hernandez received nearly 47%. The seat became vacant after former Congressman Eric Swalwell resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.

A former California state senator, Wahab was the first Afghan-American and first Muslim woman elected to the state legislature. She campaigned as a progressive Democrat and took a relatively supportive position on Palestine and Gaza.

Hernandez, meanwhile, received significant backing from pro-Israel political groups. A pro-Israel super PAC spent heavily on her campaign, with several million dollars spent on the two candidates during the final stage of the race, much of it supporting Hernandez.

After her victory, Wahab said voters backed her despite heavy spending, aggressive campaigning and misinformation, describing their trust as a key factor in her win.

The special-election victory allows Wahab to serve the remainder of Swalwell’s term. However, she will face Hernandez again in the November 3 general election for a full two-year term.

Her victory is being seen as a significant development for Afghan-American and Muslim representation in US national politics.