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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 14th congressional district

2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
Aisha Wahab
Parties
Democratic
State primary
Jun 2

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

The choice, in one sentence

Both candidates are Democrats. The argument between them has been about money and alignment rather than policy: each accuses the other of being funded by interests that will set their agenda, and voters are largely choosing between a progressive state legislator and a local executive who ran on a record of practical city governance.

2 candidates · ballot order · Aisha Wahab currently holds this seat

High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Affordable housing and renters' rights.
  • Universal health care; she has backed single-payer approaches and, as a state senator, measures to cap insulin costs and protect Medi-Cal.
  • Shielding social services from federal budget cuts.
  • Cracking down on corporate price-gouging and monopolies.
  • Gun restrictions including universal background checks, a purchase age of 21, waiting periods and a ban on civilian assault weapon sales.
  • Support for immigrant and refugee communities, and public safety through prevention and reentry programmes.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since August 2026, having won the special election runoff 53.1% to 46.9%.
  • California State Senator for the 10th district, 2022 to 2026; Senate assistant majority leader from 2024 and chair of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.
  • Hayward city councilmember before her Senate service.
  • Author of SJR 7, the Right to Safety resolution on firearms.
  • Author of Senate Bill 1193, which would create oversight of county supervisors' discretionary spending.
  • Led the June 2, 2026 regular primary and advanced to the November general election.
  • Also ran for this seat in 2020.

Arguments in favor

  • She won the special election against nearly $8 million in outside spending, which her supporters read as evidence she is not bought.

    — Reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle on the special election result

  • She would prioritise protecting social services from federal cuts and going after corporate price-gouging, drawing on a state legislative record on insulin costs and Medi-Cal.

    — Aisha Wahab's campaign

Arguments against

  • Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley has filed a Federal Election Commission complaint alleging she moved $60,000 through her state committee to get round federal contribution limits: "Corporate money that is banned from federal elections does not become legal because it takes a detour through a party committee."

    — Nate Miley, Alameda County supervisor, in an FEC complaint

  • She took more than $360,000 from corporate political action committees — including from Amazon, Google, Meta, AT&T, Comcast, fossil fuel and pharmaceutical interests through her state committee — after pledging not to.

    — Melissa Hernandez's campaign

What we couldn’t verify

  • A campaign website for the November general election could not be confirmed.
  • The Federal Election Commission complaint against her is unresolved; she denies the allegations and calls the complaint political retribution for her Senate Bill 1193.
  • Her committee assignments in the House, given she was seated in late August 2026.
Sources:sfchronicle.compleasantonweekly.comwashingtonpost.com19thnews.orgballotpedia.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Lowering the cost of living for East Bay families.
  • Building housing at every level of affordability.
  • Protecting access to health care.
  • Public safety and crime reduction.
  • Childcare availability.
  • Climate policy and support for the region's technology sector.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • President of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board of directors.
  • Mayor of Dublin; the city's first Latina mayor.
  • Says she kept Dublin financially strong without raising taxes and approved housing at every affordability level.
  • Took 16.8% in the June 16, 2026 special election first round and 46.9% in the August 18 runoff.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 regular primary to the November general election.

Arguments in favor

  • She has a record of actually running a city — balanced budgets without tax increases, housing approvals, public safety — and would bring that results-driven approach to Washington.

    — Melissa Hernandez's campaign

  • Sacramento politicians play by their own rules while families here pay the price; she says thousands of donors back her and none of them sets her agenda.

    — Melissa Hernandez's campaign

Arguments against

  • Her campaign was carried in its closing weeks by heavy spending from pro-Israel groups including AIPAC, which raises the question of whose agenda she would carry to Washington.

    — Aisha Wahab, her opponent

  • Wahab has accused her of benefiting from the misuse of county resources for campaign purposes through the office of Supervisor David Haubert.

    — Aisha Wahab's campaign

What we couldn’t verify

  • The county-resources allegation has not been adjudicated and Hernandez's detailed response was not reported in the coverage available.
  • Her positions on federal foreign policy questions, including the ones her opponent raises about her funding.
  • Whether her positions differ substantively from Wahab's on the domestic issues both campaign on.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:melissahernandez2026.compleasantonweekly.comdanvillesanramon.comsfstandard.comnbcnews.com

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

This seat became vacant when Democrat Eric Swalwell resigned on April 14, 2026. A special election was held on June 16 with a runoff on August 18; Aisha Wahab won the runoff with 53.1% to Melissa Hernandez's 46.9% and took office for the remainder of the term. The regular primary went ahead on June 2 and sent the same two Democrats to the November general election for the full term, so voters are choosing between them a second time. Roster confirmed against the Washington Post's and NBC News's coverage of the special election and Ballotpedia.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

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