Congressman Eric Swalwell has stepped down from Congress following several accusations of sexual misconduct. This development also affected his campaign for the California governor seat.
A special election to fill Swalwell’s vacancy is currently in progress, with the outcome still undecided as of early Wednesday morning. Swalwell resigned in April after allegations surfaced from five women. These allegations also halted his gubernatorial race aspirations.
Competing for Swalwell’s seat are two candidates: progressive State Senator Aisha Wahab and moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez, who is also the President of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board. Tuesday’s primary was held to find someone to fill the seat for the rest of the term, but it also serves as the primary race for the mid-term elections. Wahab and Hernandez are expected to face off again in November.
Both Wahab and Hernandez emerged as the top two candidates from the jungle primary on June 16 in California’s 14th Congressional District. In California, open primaries allow the top vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to proceed to the general election.
The race between Wahab and Hernandez highlights a broader trend in Democratic primaries. Progressive candidates, often supported by the Democratic Socialists of America, are attempting to unseat establishment-backed Democratic candidates.
Aisha Wahab, who joined the state Senate in 2022, focuses her campaign on reducing ICE’s influence. She co-authored legislation for citizens to sue agents, advocates for lower prescription drug prices, and supports investments in green energy. Wahab has received endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
Melissa Hernandez approaches key issues such as immigration with moderation. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she acknowledges issues in the immigration system, advocating for smart border security and regional cooperation. Her campaign has gained approximately a dozen Congressional endorsements.
Despite Wahab’s stance against ICE, controversy arose when her father posted on Facebook, urging supporters to report Hernandez to ICE. Wahab’s campaign later issued an apology online.