California State Senator Aisha Wahab has made history by becoming the first Afghan-American elected to the United States Congress after winning a special election in California’s 14th Congressional District.
Wahab, a Democrat and progressive lawmaker, defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez to secure the seat previously held by former Representative Eric Swalwell.
She won more than 53% of the vote, according to results reported after the election.
Her victory marks another milestone in a political career that began with her election to the Hayward City Council in 2018, when she became the first Afghan-American woman elected to public office in the United States.
She was later elected to the California State Senate in 2022, becoming the first Afghan-American and Muslim woman to serve in the state Legislature.
Wahab’s personal journey has also drawn attention. She and her sister lost their Afghan refugee parents at a young age and spent time in foster care before being adopted and raised in Fremont, California. Her experiences have influenced her focus on affordable housing, economic inequality, workers’ rights and support for vulnerable communities.
Wahab will serve the remainder of Swalwell’s current term, while she and Hernandez are expected to face each other again in November for the full congressional term.
