Democrat · California's 14th District · 2026
Aisha Wahab
Wahab and her sister spent time in foster care before an Afghan American couple adopted them.
Biography
Aisha Wahab and her sister spent years in foster care after losing their birth parents, before an Afghan American couple adopted them when she was nine.1 Born in New York and raised in the Bay Area, she worked full time through college and later experienced her family's loss of its home during the Great Recession.1
Wahab earned a political science degree at San Jose State, an MBA at Cal State East Bay and a doctorate in social work at USC.2 Her professional work included technology and service operations, and her community roles included Alameda County's Human Relations and Public Health commissions.21
She was elected to Hayward's council in 2018 and California's Senate in 2022, becoming assistant majority leader.3 After winning an August special election, she took the congressional oath on September 2, becoming the first Afghan American elected to Congress.3
Wahab's campaign emphasizes lower housing, healthcare, childcare and utility costs, stronger renter protections and pathways to homeownership.4 She also supports social services for foster children, seniors, people with disabilities and families in crisis.4 She and fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez are the November finalists for the full congressional term.4
Record and controversies
State disclosure warning
In January 2025, the FPPC warned Wahab for late reporting of a $10,000 Kaiser Permanente payment made at her request in August 2024 to the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Activities League.5 The agency found a disclosure violation and closed the case without a fine, citing her filing before enforcement contact, minimal public harm and no prior history under that provision.5
2026 campaign finance complaint
At an August 2026 Hernandez campaign event, County Supervisor Nate Miley discussed his FEC complaint against Wahab.6 It alleged that her state committee's $60,000 donation to the county Democratic Party became an illegal, unreported contribution benefiting her House campaign.6 The party denied wrongdoing and said its work was independently directed; Wahab called the complaint a political stunt and retaliation.6 No public FEC finding or resolution was verified in this review.