WASHINGTON — Aisha Wahab, a progressive California state senator, won the Bay Area special election to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Associated Press and other media outlets projected late on Aug. 20 after two days of counting ballots.
Wahab overcame late intervention from the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, which spent millions of dollars on ads to try to defeat her and boost opponent Melissa Hernandez.
With some ballots still outstanding, Wahab has about 53% of the vote, topping 47% for Hernandez, former mayor of Dublin, California, and president of Bay Area Rapid Transit. About 95% of all votes had been counted as of Aug. 21, according to the AP.
resignation from Congress
Wahab, 39, is the first Afghan American elected to Congress after previously becoming the first Muslim woman and first Afghan American elected to the California legislature. Wahab was favored in the Aug. 18 election after finishing first in the June primary, but the race narrowed as AIPAC spending soared.
Once Wahab is sworn in to represent California's solidly Democratic 14th Congressional District, Democrats will have 213 members in the House, to 218 for Republicans.
Wahab's victory marks another win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which is marked by candidates outspoken against Israel. Although Wahab did not make foreign affairs the main focus of her campaign, she said at an April candidates' forum that she believes Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza amount to genocide.
United Democracy Project, a super PAC of AIPAC, spent more than $2.5 million since Aug. 1 to boost Hernandez. Combined with another AIPAC-affiliated PAC, Politico reported that spending on ads exceeded $5 million.
Wahab will fill the remainder of Swalwell's term, following his resignation in April in the middle of his campaign for governor after several women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. Wahab and Hernandez will square off again in the November election to fill the next two-year term for the seat.
FBI agents executed multiple search warrants against Swalwell over the weekend, including at his home, as part of a federal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The FBI seized multiple electronic devices from the ex-congressman.
Contributing: Reuters
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Progressive Aisha Wahab fends off AIPAC money to win Eric Swalwell's seat
