Democrat Aisha Wahab advanced to an Aug. 18 runoff for California’s special U.S. House election after former Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations. With about 82% of votes counted early Wednesday, Wahab led the field, while the second
On a clock that keeps ticking even when politics won’t pause. California’s special House contest moved into its next phase without waiting for full answers from voters. As of early Wednesday. June 17. Democrat Aisha Wahab had advanced to a runoff election for the open seat tied to former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s departure.
The seat is open for the remainder of the term because Swalwell resigned from Congress after allegations of sexual misconduct. He also dropped out of the California governor’s race, leaving behind a campaign landscape that now turns on two different elections—one short and one long.
The special election is split in time. A June 16 special primary will determine who replaces Swalwell through the end of his current term, which runs until Jan. 3. No candidate earned a majority of votes on June 16, so the race will pivot to a runoff on Aug. 18 between the top two finishers. As of early Wednesday, Wahab had secured the first spot; the runner-up for the runoff had not yet been announced.
Wahab’s lead stood out as returns moved. With an estimated 82% of votes counted by 6:36 a.m. ET Wednesday. the top five finishers were Aisha Wahab (42.4%). Melissa Hernandez (16.7% of votes). Rakhi Israni Singh (13.2% of votes). Wendy Huang (9.3% of votes). and Dena Maldonado (8.9% of votes). Hernandez. who finished second. is in position to contend again. but the final confirmation of the second runoff qualifier was still pending.
This contest is happening in the San Francisco area. which is heavily Democratic. and it carries a particular kind of political pressure: two elections are moving in parallel. and the outcomes shape power for different lengths of time. Another election will choose who takes the seat full-time for a term starting in January 2027.
That full-term race is tied to the regularly scheduled general election in November. Wahab and fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez advanced out of the June 2 primary for that November vote, setting up a longer runway even as the special election shortens the timeline for now.
The sequence matters because the math forces urgency. On June 16, voters didn’t deliver a majority winner, so the Aug. 18 runoff becomes the deciding hinge for completing Swalwell’s term through Jan. 3. At the same time. the November path to a January 2027 start is already shaped by results from June 2. with Wahab and Hernandez advancing from that earlier primary.
California special election Aisha Wahab Eric Swalwell Aug. 18 runoff San Francisco House seat Melissa Hernandez Associated Press CNN 2026 election