Progressive Democrat Aisha Wahab has won a California special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Wahab, a California state senator, defeated Bay Area Rapid Transit board president Melissa Hernandez in the East Bay district after a closely watched Democratic battle.
With 95 percent of votes counted on Thursday afternoon, Wahab held a lead of just over six percentage points, according to the Guardian.
“I will fight for this district that raised me. From foster care to Congress, this journey shows the possibility of the American Dream,” Wahab said in a statement on Thursday.
Wahab had entered the race as the frontrunner and was backed by the California Democratic Party, progressive group Our Revolution, labour unions and state Attorney General Rob Bonta.
However, the contest tightened after Super PACs linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent millions of dollars supporting Hernandez and opposing Wahab.
Track AIPAC estimated nearly $6.4 million was spent to support Hernandez.
Wahab, the first Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to California’s legislature, previously described the outside spending as election interference.
Swalwell resigned from Congress in April following sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied. Wahab will serve the remainder of his term.
