Aisha Wahab
D · U.S. House, CA-14 · Tier 3/4
Tier 3/4, between “Pro-Israel, critical” and “Critical / conditions aid”
Won the Aug 18, 2026 special election for CA-14, 53–47 over Melissa Hernandez, and was sworn in Sept 2, 2026 as the first Afghan American in Congress, serving the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term to January 2027; she and Hernandez meet again on Nov 3 for the full term. A former California state senator (SD-10). Authored SCR 105 (Human Rights: Gaza), which passed the California Senate 35–0 on Sept 12, 2025. Her own description: “It condemns terrorism. It condemns collective punishment. It calls for accountability under international law, the protection of civilians, and the safe return of all hostages.” Endorsed by AROC Action. At an April 2026 candidate forum Wahab answered yes when asked whether Israel was committing genocide in Gaza — KQED reported she said she believed Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people constituted a genocide — and on election night she told KQED “I believe that AIPAC has been nothing but racist and prejudiced in this effort,” adding, “I support our Jewish constituents and really want to serve everybody — human rights is not a zero-sum game.” On Oct 5, 2026 she cosponsored the Block the Bombs Act (H.R.3565). In an interview The New Arab published on Oct 30, 2026, asked whether it is difficult to talk about Israel and Palestine, she said it is “definitely getting easier” and that “there’s this growing movement of accountability and where do our dollars go, and who’s being harmed and for what purpose.”
A 3/4, on a short congressional record. On Oct 5, 2026, five weeks after she was sworn in, she cosponsored the Block the Bombs Act, which would limit transfers of offensive U.S. weapons to Israel. She names the genocide: asked at an April 2026 candidate forum whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, she answered yes (KQED, El País), and her campaign site faults her opponent as the only candidate at that forum who “refused to acknowledge the genocide.” She voted Nay on the September 2026 anti-boycott bill. Her California Senate resolution on Gaza (SCR 105) is a both-sides human-rights text and adds little on its own. What keeps her short of 4 is how new the record is: one act toward limiting weapons, and her support for ending all U.S. aid to Israel is a one-word answer: asked in the rapid-fire round of an August 13, 2026 livestream interview, “Ending all US aid to Israel?”, she said “Yes, but like I said, humanitarian aid is important to me, too.” No AIPAC or DMFI money has gone to her; AIPAC’s super PAC and Bold America, a super PAC it helps fund, spent about $2.25 million against her in the special election.
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elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).