Wahab wins race for Swalwell's U.S. House seat

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(The Center Square) – Various media outlets on Thursday declared state Sen. Aisha Wahab the winner over Bay Area Rapid Transit board member Melissa Hernandez in the race for California’s 14th Congressional District.

Both candidates are Democrats who faced each other in Tuesday's special election.

Wahab, D-Alameda County, is expected to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell and go to Washington, D.C. to complete Swalwell's term, which ends Jan. 3. Swalwell resigned from the House in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. He also quit the gubernatorial race.

District 14 is entirely within Alameda County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The county's election website on Thursday afternoon showed Wahab with 51,610 votes or 53.09% support compared to Hernandez’s 45,598 votes or 46.91% support. That's with 95% of the ballots counted.

The California Secretary of State’s Office plans to certify results by Sept. 25.

Wahab and Hernandez met twice this year for primaries leading up to Tuesday’s special election. The primaries were held June 2 and 16. 

Despite Wahab's apparent victory, the candidates will square off again in the Nov. 3 general election to determine who will serve during the term starting Jan. 3.

Neither candidate has responded to The Center Square’s multiple requests for comment.