special election – Voters in California’s 14th Congressional District cast ballots Tuesday in a special primary to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell, whose April resignation followed sexual-assault allegations he denies. The crowded field includes 11 candidates, with Democrats h
By Tuesday morning in California’s 14th Congressional District, the question on the ballot wasn’t abstract—it was immediate. Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area were choosing who will replace former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell after he resigned from Congress amid allegations of sexual assault.
Ballots are being cast for a special primary that covers East Bay cities including Fremont, Hayward and Livermore. The district has long leaned Democratic, and Swalwell had typically beaten Republican challengers by wide margins.
Under the election rules. if any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. they will win outright and serve out the remainder of Swalwell’s term through January. If no one reaches that threshold. the top two candidates—one from the Democratic field and one from the Republican field—will advance to an Aug. 18 runoff.
There are 11 names on Tuesday’s ballot, including Democrats Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez. Wahab, a state senator, built her campaign message around reducing housing costs. Hernandez is a Bay Area Rapid Transit director and former mayor of Dublin.
Republicans also entered the race. Wendy Huang, a real estate investor, is running, as is Dena Maldonado, who operates a small flower business.
The special election is taking place alongside a separate timeline and political momentum that already played out in June. A regular primary was held on June 2 for a full term to the seat beginning in January. Many of the same candidates from Tuesday’s ballot were in that contest.
In the June 2 primary, Wahab and Hernandez finished as the top two vote-getters and moved on to the November election. If either one wins the special election. their strategy would be familiar: serving for a few months this summer and fall could boost visibility and provide job experience to point to as they campaign for the full term.
Another Democrat is also seeking to fill the remainder of Swalwell’s term on Tuesday’s ballot: attorney and businesswoman Rakhi Israni Singh. She ran in the statewide primary but did not finish in the top two.
Swalwell held the seat for seven terms before resigning in April. His departure came after the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice. including when she worked for him. Swalwell has repeatedly denied the accusations. He also said it would be unfair to his constituents to remain in Congress.
CNN later reported that other women accused Swalwell of sending inappropriate messages and nude photos.
The election now turns on the same basic math as it does on the lived reality behind it: whether voters choose one candidate decisively on Tuesday or push the decision into an Aug. 18 runoff. shaping who will represent the district for months—and whether that interim service becomes a stepping stone into the full-term race.
Eric Swalwell special election 14th Congressional District California Aisha Wahab Melissa Hernandez Wendy Huang Dena Maldonado Rakhi Israni Singh Aug. 18 runoff