SMFNews: Update: Eight Muslims Elected to Congress as Wahab Wins
Header photo: The U.S. Capitol, west front. Photo: Architect of the Capitol (public domain).
Rep. Aisha Wahab has won a full two-year term in California’s 14th Congressional District. Her race was the only federal contest involving a Muslim American candidate still being counted in SMF News’ Nov. 4 results roundup. With her win, eight Muslims have been elected to the next Congress.
The California race is called
The Associated Press called the race at 5:46 p.m. Pacific time (8:46 p.m. ET) on Nov. 6, according to KQED’s results page. With about 91% of votes counted, KQED’s AP count showed Wahab with 57.5% (120,060 votes) to 42.4% (88,461 votes) for Melissa Hernandez, a fellow Democrat and BART board director. CBS News also projected Wahab the winner.
Wahab won an August special election to finish the term of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April. The district covers Fremont, Hayward and the Tri-Valley. ABC7, with reporting from the Associated Press, noted that Wahab, who in 2018 became the first Afghan American elected to public office in the U.S. when she won a Hayward City Council seat, later became the first Afghan American elected to Congress.
A record eight
The Muslims elected to the next Congress are Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan; Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, André Carson of Indiana, Lateefah Simon of California and Aisha Wahab of California; and Representatives-elect Adam Hamawy of New Jersey and Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York.
Religion News Service reported on Nov. 4 that a record seven Muslims had been elected to Congress and that a Wahab win would raise the total to eight. RNS noted that the previous high for Muslims serving in Congress at the same time was five.
Orientation on Capitol Hill
Wahab was on Capitol Hill on Monday, Nov. 9, for orientation with more than 100 incoming House members, KTVU reported. She told the station that the sessions covered office structure, budgeting and “the everyday overhead work that needs to be done.”
According to KTVU, the 120th Congress is scheduled to convene on Jan. 3, 2027. Results in California and other states remain unofficial until they are certified.
SMF News congratulates all eight and thanks every Muslim American who ran for federal office this year. This update does not endorse any party or candidate. For results on all 11 federal Muslim candidates, see our original roundup.
Sources
KQED, U.S. House District 14 results (AP call, Nov. 6, 2026); CBS San Francisco (Nov. 7, 2026); ABC7 / Associated Press (Nov. 7, 2026); Religion News Service (Nov. 4, 2026); KTVU (Nov. 9, 2026); SMF News, Nov. 4 results roundup.
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