The 2026 California Congressional elections are almost upon us, with all eyes on District 14. After the unexpected resignation of Eric Swalwell in April, the seat is completely up for grabs. But the reason this election is truly unique? The powerful lineup of women leading the election. Candidates Aisha Wahab, Melissa Hernandez, Rakhi Israni, and Wendy Huang are looking to be the ones to watch in this race.
As the first Afghan American woman in the United States to ever hold public office, Dr. Aisha Wahab made waves when she first entered the political scene by running for the Hayward City Council in 2018. After receiving her BA in Political Science from San Jose State, she went on to earn her Doctorate in Social Work from USC. Now, she serves as the first Muslim in the California State Legislature as a California State Senator and is the official Democratic Party-sponsored candidate in this election.
A strong advocate for healthcare access, Melissa Hernandez received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Affairs, and Administration from CSU East Bay at the age of 43. Her political debut came years later, as the first Latina Mayor of Dublin in 2020. Since then, she has served District 5 on the BART Board of Directors as the current Board President and previously served as Chair of the Valley Link Board.
Rakhi Israni is perhaps the most academically qualified candidate, with her 4 degrees spanning both Business and Law from the University of Texas, Rice, and Columbia Law School. Professionally, she has founded Excel Test Prep, practiced as an attorney in the East Bay, and served as the Judge Pro Tem in Santa Clara County Superior Court. She is currently the Vice President of Government and Public Relations for Sewa International and serves as the PTSA President in her community.
The only Republican candidate in this election, Wendy Huang graduated from UC Davis. Since then, she has worked for over a decade in Silicon Valley, working her way up to executive-level experience as an independent business professional. She is a local real estate investor and a grassroots advocate who organized efforts to block high-crime businesses from opening near schools. It is worth noting that, given her status as a political outsider, not much is known about her comparatively.
With the unique resignation of Eric Swalwell and intensive media coverage, there is no doubt that this is the election to watch. Be sure to use your voice and cast your vote this June!