Democrats Wahab and Hernandez advance to special election for Swalwell's California seat

Democratic candidates State Senator Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit director Melissa Hernandez have secured the two slots in a special general election to complete the remaining term of former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell in California's 14th Congressional District. Swalwell, who represented the East Bay region for seven terms, resigned from Congress in April following sexual assault and misconduct allegations reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.

Wahab and Hernandez advanced Thursday after receiving the most votes in a competitive field that included both Democratic and Republican candidates. They will now compete in an August 18 special general election to fill Swalwell's seat through January 2027. The two candidates also secured the top two positions in the regular primary held on June 2, effectively locking out Republican challengers in the heavily Democratic district that encompasses cities including Fremont, Hayward, and Livermore.

Wahab, who serves as the California State Senate's assistant majority leader, has campaigned on a progressive platform emphasizing expansion of social safety net programs, renter protections, social justice issues, and small business support through reduced bureaucratic obstacles. Hernandez, the former mayor of Dublin in the East Bay, has highlighted similar policy goals while adopting a more business-friendly approach, focusing on small business growth, housing development incentives, and efforts to lower health insurance premiums through restored insurance subsidies.

The winner of the August special election will gain congressional experience and visibility ahead of the November general election, where the victor will secure a full two-year term. Because both candidates qualified for both elections, whichever Democrat wins in August will be positioned as the frontrunner for the November contest, ensuring Democratic control of the seat through the full legislative cycle.

Swalwell has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, which included reports of inappropriate messages and nude photos sent to women. He stated that remaining in Congress would be unfair to his constituents and withdrew his campaign for California governor.