[REVISION HISTORY]

Aisha Wahab sworn in as first Afghan American in Congress

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2026-09-05 00:32 UTC → 2026-09-10 04:48 UTC · added ~~removed~~

State Senator Aisha Wahab has been sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Afghan American to serve in Congress. Wahab won the special election for California’s 14th Congressional District to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April following allegations of sexual misconduct. In her remarks upon being sworn in, Wahab discussed her personal history growing up in the foster care system. She expressed a commitment to working across party lines to address the rising costs of healthcare, housing, and basic necessities. Her transition to federal office leaves her former California state senate seat vacant until after the November general election. The special election race was marked by significant spending from groups aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spent between $5 million and $6.4 million to support fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez. While Hernandez maintained a moderate stance on the conflict in Gaza, Wahab had previously described the situation as a “genocide” and advocated for changes to U.S. policy regarding unconditional aid to Israel. Wahab is currently facing scrutiny following comments regarding diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. She suggested that the United States should pursue diplomacy with the Islamic Emirate government to potentially influence human rights and civil rights improvements in Afghanistan. This stance has drawn condemnation from members of the Afghan diaspora, with some critics labeling her a “Taliban apologist.” Wahab and Hernandez are scheduled to face each other again in the November 3 general election to determine who will serve the next full term.

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