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California’s Aisha Wahab Sworn In as First Afghan American Member of Congress

Writer: 17GEN4
17GEN4
55 minutes ago
3 min read

Aisha Wahab Sworn In as First Afghan American in Congress | California CA-14


WASHINGTON — Aisha Wahab was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on September 2, 2026, becoming the first Afghan American to serve in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson administered the oath as Wahab took the seat representing California’s 14th Congressional District for the remainder of the current term.


Wahab, a 39-year-old Democrat and former California state senator, fills the vacancy created when Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned in April amid allegations of sexual assault and harassment, which he has denied. She won the August 18 special election with 53.1 percent of the vote against fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez, president of the BART Board of Directors. The two will face each other again on November 3 for a full two-year term.


Born in New York City on January 11, 1987, to Afghan refugees who fled during the Soviet-Afghan war, Wahab lost her father to an unsolved murder and her mother soon after. She and her sister entered foster care before being adopted by an Afghan family in Fremont, California. She earned a doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California. In 2018 she became the first Afghan American woman elected to public office in the United States when she won a seat on the Hayward City Council. In 2022 she became the first Muslim and first Afghan American elected to the California State Senate, later serving as assistant majority leader.


In her first remarks from the House floor, Wahab said: “For generations, the American Dream has made this country a beacon to the world because of one powerful promise: your past does not determine your future. I walked into Congress carrying the beating heart of a former foster care kid.” She added that Americans are tired of partisan fighting while struggling with the cost of housing, groceries, health care and other necessities. “If we choose common purpose over division and people over politics, we can make the promise of America real again, because the American Dream does not belong to Republicans or Democrats. It belongs to every American who believes that tomorrow can be better.”


Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced Wahab to the House, noting her background and focus on protecting vulnerable people. The district covers parts of southern Alameda County and the Tri-Valley, including Hayward, Fremont, Dublin and Pleasanton. Wahab has said her priorities include the needs of foster youth and other vulnerable populations. She has also been associated with California legislation on AI deepfakes and digital identity theft.



The special-election campaign drew millions in outside spending, including from groups tied to AIPAC that opposed Wahab. She framed her win as proof that “our district cannot be bought” and described the path “from foster care to Congress” as evidence of the American Dream. Her initial tenure runs through early January 2027 pending the November rematch.


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Aisha Wahab Sworn In as First Afghan American in Congress | California CA-14


California Democrat Aisha Wahab was sworn into the U.S. House on Sept. 2, 2026, becoming the first Afghan American in Congress. The former foster youth and state senator fills Eric Swalwell’s East Bay seat and faces a November rematch.

 
 
 

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