Race To Replace Eric Swalwell Undecided, House Race Still Not Called
A closely watched California election remained unresolved early Wednesday morning as two Democrats waited to learn who would immediately head to Washington.
The contest also represents another battle between the progressive and more moderate wings of the Democratic Party, with the eventual outcome carrying consequences beyond the current term.
Progressive California state Sen. Aisha Wahab and moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez are battling to replace former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell in California’s 14th Congressional District after Tuesday’s special election remained too close to call.
Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid sexual assault allegations from at least five women, leaving the heavily Democratic Bay Area district without its longtime representative.
Swalwell had also been campaigning for governor of California before dropping that bid following the allegations.
The former congressman has been a prominent national Democratic figure for years and became particularly well known for his frequent criticism of President Donald Trump.
Tuesday’s unusual contest will determine who serves the remainder of Swalwell’s congressional term while simultaneously setting up another election between the same two candidates in November.
Wahab and Hernandez previously emerged as the top two candidates from a June 16 jungle primary for the 14th Congressional District.
California’s open-primary system allows candidates from all political parties to compete on the same ballot, with the two highest finishers advancing regardless of party affiliation.
Because both women advanced, voters in the heavily Democratic district were guaranteed to elect another Democrat to Swalwell’s former seat.
Wahab has served in the California state Senate since 2022 and has campaigned as a progressive with a platform that includes challenging Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
She co-authored legislation designed to make it easier for citizens to sue immigration agents and has also called for lowering prescription drug prices and increasing investment in green and renewable energy.
Wahab has received support from Our Revolution, the political organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as California Attorney General Rob Bonta and progressive Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar.
Hernandez, president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board, has attempted to establish herself as the more moderate alternative in the contest.
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Hernandez has described the nation’s immigration system as “broken” while calling for an approach that includes border enforcement.
Hernandez says she “supports smart border security and regional cooperation,” putting some ideological distance between herself and Wahab on an issue that has become increasingly divisive inside the Democratic Party.
She has also accumulated significant establishment support, receiving endorsements from nearly a dozen members of Congress.
The campaign took an unusual turn when Wahab’s father appeared to contradict one of his daughter’s signature political positions during an attack on Hernandez.
Despite Wahab campaigning as a fierce critic of ICE, her father reportedly wrote on Facebook that his daughter’s supporters should “call ICE” on Hernandez.
The remark was particularly notable given Hernandez’s background as the daughter of Mexican immigrants.
Wahab’s campaign subsequently apologized for the comment on its website.
The California contest comes as Democrats around the country confront a series of primary fights between progressive candidates and more moderate or establishment-aligned members of the party.
But unlike many of those races, Tuesday’s election carries an immediate prize because the winner will not have to wait until January to take office.
Whoever ultimately prevails will fill Swalwell’s vacant seat for the remainder of his term and could quickly become the district’s newest member of Congress.
Then the two candidates will have to do it all over again.
Regardless of who wins the special election, Wahab and Hernandez are scheduled to face each other once more in November for the next full congressional term, Fox News reported.
For now, however, Swalwell’s former seat remains vacant as California election officials continue counting ballots and both Democrats wait for a winner to emerge.
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
