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Federal · Statewide General Election

United States Representative, District 14

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).

This is an open seat and both November candidates are Democrats: State Senator Aisha Wahab led the June 2 primary with 38.3% and Melissa Hernandez took 17.2%. The district covers Fremont, Hayward and part of southern Alameda County.

The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. Because this seat is open, whoever wins starts at the bottom of the seniority ladder.

With two Democrats on the ballot, party is not the axis. One brings a state legislative record with 7 bills signed into law; the other has not held state or federal office but out-raised her. Both are funded mainly by individuals. Weigh a documented legislative record against a larger campaign without one.

Aisha Wahab

Democrat, a sitting State Senator seeking this open House seat. She is lead author of 35 bills in the 2025–2026 state session, 7 of them signed into law. She raised $631,749, including $437,223 from individuals and $38,500 of her own money.

Strengths

Seven state bills signed into law is a solid record, and she led the June field by 21 points.

Trade-offs

She raised less than her opponent despite leading the primary, and has no federal record; her state work was in a chamber with a different remit.

Keep in mind

She led with 38.3%, short of a majority, so November depends on where the rest of the June field's support settles.

Melissa Hernandez

Democrat, who advanced with 17.2% of the June vote. She raised $1,534,263, of which $1,464,163 came from individuals and $70,000 from PACs and committees. She has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.

Strengths

She has raised more than twice the primary leader's total while taking less than half her vote share, and 95% of it came from named individuals.

Trade-offs

She finished 21 points behind and has no state or federal legislative record to be judged on.

Keep in mind

Money and votes point in opposite directions here; June suggests the money has not yet moved this district.

Record in office

This seat is open — no candidate on the November ballot currently holds it. Aisha Wahab (Democratic) is a sitting State Senator and is lead author of 35 bills in the 2025–2026 session, 7 of them signed into law. Melissa Hernandez has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Per the California Legislature's public bill data (leginfo bulk download), retrieved 2026-08-10.

Record details

Wahab — SB 722 (2026): Transit-oriented housing development: excluded parcels and sites. Wahab — SB 261 (2025): Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: orders, decisions, and awards. Wahab — SB 733 (2025): Sexual assault forensic evidence: testing. Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.

Financial info

Melissa Hernandez

$1,534,263raised
  • Individuals$1,464,16395%
  • PACs & committees$70,0005%

Aisha Wahab

$631,749raised
  • Individuals$437,22369%
  • PACs & committees$155,98325%
  • Self-funding$38,5006%

Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through July 29, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-08-22.

June 2 primary — how they advanced

Aisha Wahab (Democratic)38.3% · 59,238 votes
Melissa Hernandez (Democratic)17.2% · 26,579 votes
Wendy Huang (Republican)13.2% · 20,354 votes
Rakhi Israni Singh (Democratic)13.0% · 20,041 votes
Dena Maldonado (Republican)12.1% · 18,788 votes
Victor Aguilar, Jr. (Democratic)2.1% · 3,276 votes
Matt Ortega (Democratic)1.7% · 2,612 votes
Carin Elam (Democratic)1.4% · 2,160 votes
Suzanne Chenault (No Party Preference)1.1% · 1,699 votes
Source review: Very strong (97/100) · 4 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

Last updated August 11, 2026.