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Aisha Wahab wins special election to California's 14th District
Aisha Wahab, a progressive Democratic state senator, has won a special election to represent California’s 14th Congressional District. She becomes the first Afghan American elected to the U.S. Congress, succeeding Eric Swalwell, who resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Wahab defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez, the president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board. The election was marked by significant spending from pro-Israel interest groups. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated super PACs spent millions of dollars to support Hernandez and run attack ads against Wahab. Reports indicate that spending by these groups reached between $5 million and $6.4 million in the final weeks of the campaign.
A central issue in the race was the conflict in Gaza. Wahab, who has previously co-authored resolutions calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis, described the actions in Gaza as genocide and opposed unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. Hernandez took a more moderate stance, acknowledging the destruction in Gaza was excessive but defending Israel’s right to self-defense.
Wahab and Hernandez are scheduled to face each other again in November for a full congressional term under newly redrawn district boundaries.
Entities
AIPAC · Aisha Wahab · American Israel Public Affairs Committee · California · California 14th Congressional District · Eric Swalwell · Melissa Hernandez
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 22 SOURCES] Aisha Wahab is the first Afghan American elected to the US Congress. www.khabarfoori.com · samacharnama.com · www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · +17 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Wahab has expressed opposition to unconditional U.S. aid to Israel and described events in Gaza as genocide. www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.rokna.net · +10 more
- [● 22 SOURCES] Aisha Wahab won the special election for California’s 14th Congressional District. www.khabarfoori.com · samacharnama.com · www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · +17 more
- [● 22 SOURCES] Wahab will succeed Eric Swalwell, who resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct. samacharnama.com · www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · barbadosgazette.com · +17 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent millions of dollars supporting Melissa Hernandez. www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · barbadosgazette.com · munsifdaily.com · +14 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] Wahab defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in the special election. www.khabarfoori.com · samacharnama.com · www.bazentekhabat.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · english.alsiasi.com · +16 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Wahab and Hernandez are scheduled to compete again in November for a full congressional term. samacharnama.com · www.bazentekhabat.com · munsifdaily.com · yespunjab.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · +13 more