State Sen. Aisha Wahab won the special runoff election for California's 14th Congressional District on Thursday, defeating fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez to serve out the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's term.

CNN, AP, and other outlets projected Wahab's victory after polls closed Tuesday in the East Bay district. With results largely in by Thursday afternoon, Wahab held a lead exceeding six percentage points.

Wahab, a progressive Democrat, will represent the district through January 2027. She is set to become the first Afghan American member of Congress. The state senator had strong backing from labor unions, local officials, and the state Democratic Party apparatus.

The contest followed Swalwell's April resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied. No candidate achieved a majority in the June special primary, leading to the August 18 runoff between the top two finishers, Wahab and Hernandez.

Wahab outperformed expectations in the primary by more than 20 points. The race drew attention for heavy spending by outside groups, including significant opposition funding from pro-Israel organizations.

The 14th District covers parts of Alameda County east of San Francisco and has long been a Democratic stronghold. Wahab will serve alongside the winner of the November general election for the full term beginning in 2027.