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Democrats Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez will compete this month in the special runoff election for Congressional District 14 to fill the remainder of a term vacated by former Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Voters will select their future representative Aug. 18 for a months-long term running into January 2027. Swalwell resigned from the post last April amid sexual assault and abuse allegations.Â
Wahab and Hernandez secured their spots in the special runoff election finishing in the top two during a special primary election June 18 – two weeks after they placed first and second in a crowded regular primary election for the Nov. 3 general election when the next full term for District 14 will be decided.
State Sen. Wahab (D-Fremont) led both primaries with over double the votes of former Dublin mayor Hernandez, who currently serves as president of the BART Board of Directors and health care director for District 1 of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
Ahead of the special election, Hernandez and Wahab shared their goals and platforms with the Pleasanton Weekly in email interviews.
“My focus for the rest of this term is delivering for the families of this district: bringing down the cost of living and keeping our neighborhoods safe,” Hernandez said.
For the Tri-Valley in particular, Hernandez said she intends to lower costs facing families and small businesses, support affordable healthcare and childcare as well as invest in public safety.
“I cut red tape for businesses and hired more police officers as Mayor, so you know where my record stands,” Hernandez added.
As for the balance between being a representative and campaigner, Hernandez said she plans to focus on representing District 14 over campaigning for the general election.
“In the months ahead, let me be clear: the job comes first. When I’m elected, my focus will be representing us,” Hernandez said.
“I’m not a Sacramento politician. I don’t believe in ideological fights. I’m a mom from this community and I want to get things done, just as I did as Mayor, the last couple years as BART Director, and in my day job as a healthcare advocate,” Hernandez added.
In her email interview, Wahab said, “My first priority for the remainder of the District 14 term would be to make sure residents once again have an accessible, responsive and trusted voice in Congress.”
“Even though the remaining term is brief, families cannot afford a pause in representation,” Wahab added.
Overall, she intends to focus on lowering the cost of housing, healthcare, groceries and childcare; protecting Social Security, Medicare and reproductive freedom; supporting good-paying jobs and small businesses as well as advancing public safety solutions.
Of immediate focus is helping residents with services while also protecting funding committed by the federal government, she said.
“I would also defend the civil and constitutional rights of every community, regardless of race, religion, gender, immigration status or political affiliation,” Wahab said.
In the Tri-Valley specifically, she expressed priority for securing transportation and infrastructure investments to reduce congestion on interstates 580 and 680, improving regional transit and ensuring growth is accompanied by infrastructure, school and affordable housing.
“Should I be elected in August, my responsibility as a member of Congress would come first,” Wahab said. “I would not treat the remainder of the term as an extended campaign.”
As for campaign finances, Melissa Hernandez for Congress has received a total of $720,065.11 through Aug. 1 of the election cycle, according to financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The campaign’s most recent filings include a July quarterly report and a 48 hour notice of contributions/loans received.
Through June 30 of the election cycle, her campaign expenditures total $525,772.04, the July quarterly report states.
Wahab’s campaign dubbed Dr. Aisha Wahab For Congress has received a total of $575,281.58 through June 30 of the election cycle, according to the July quarterly report filed with the FEC.
During the same period, her campaign expenditures totaled $342,888.73.
The campaign receipts and expenditures represent total dollar values for both the special general and general election.
Voters within the pre-Proposition 50 boundaries are able to select a District 14 candidate in the special general election. The area includes Livermore, Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City and Fairview and parts of Dublin, Fremont, San Lorenzo, San Leandro and Mountain House.
The regular general election features slightly different boundaries, so the full-term winner is set to represent the southern Tri-Valley and areas west such as Fremont and Hayward.
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