Voters across California’s 14th Congressional District headed to the polls this week to decide who could succeed former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, whose resignation earlier this year created one of the state’s highest-profile special elections.
The contest is designed to fill the remainder of the current congressional term, which runs through January 2027. While the district has long been considered a Democratic stronghold, the election is drawing attention because of both the vacancy and the unusual timing alongside the regularly scheduled congressional race.
A Race With High Stakes
The special primary features a diverse field of candidates from both major parties. Among the most closely watched contenders are Democratic State Senator Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez. Republican candidates include former technology executive and real estate investor Wendy Huang, along with small business owner Dena Maldonado.
California’s election rules mean that a candidate who secures more than half of the vote immediately wins the seat. If no one reaches that threshold, the two highest vote-getters, regardless of political party, will move on to a runoff election scheduled for August.
The district covers much of the East Bay, including communities such as Fremont, Hayward, Livermore and parts of Dublin, an area where Democratic candidates have historically performed strongly.
Separate From the November Election
Although voters are casting ballots now, the special election only determines who will complete the current congressional term. The race for the next full two-year term follows a separate timeline.
Earlier this month, Wahab and Hernandez emerged as the top two finishers in California’s regular congressional primary, earning spots on the November general election ballot. As a result, the district is expected to remain under Democratic representation regardless of the outcome of the special election process.
The winner of the special election would gain several months of experience in Congress before the next full term begins, potentially offering an advantage ahead of the November contest.
Vacancy Reshaped the Political Landscape
The congressional seat became vacant after Eric Swalwell resigned from office in April following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, accusations he has denied. His departure also ended his campaign for California governor and prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to call a special election to fill the remainder of the term.
The vacancy quickly transformed what would normally have been a routine congressional race into one of the state’s most closely followed political contests, with candidates competing not only for immediate representation but also for momentum heading into the fall election season.
As ballots are counted, attention will turn to whether a candidate can avoid a runoff by capturing an outright majority or whether voters will return to the polls in August for a final decision on who will represent California’s 14th Congressional District through the end of the current term.
