Super PACs linked to Aipac have funneled millions into a California special congressional election to oppose progressive state senator Aisha Wahab, the California Democratic Party–endorsed frontrunner for Eric Swalwell’s former seat. Wahab led Melissa Hernandez by more than 20 points in June’s contests; the two will face off in a runoff later this month and again in November. Recent outside spending topped $5 million, including donations from United Democracy Project and Bold America PAC, while Track Aipac reports $4.4 million backing Hernandez. Wahab has denounced the influx of outside "dark money" and urged voters to scrutinize her record directly.
Aipac-Linked Super PACs Pour Millions Into California Race to Block Progressive Aisha Wahab
Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez.Photograph: AP,Melissa Hernandez for Congress
Super PACs linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) have injected millions of dollars into a hotly contested California congressional race, aiming to prevent progressive state senator Aisha Wahab from winning the seat once held by Eric Swalwell.
Wahab, who is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the special election for the East Bay district. Swalwell resigned earlier this year amid multiple allegations of sexual assault; a special election was held to fill the remainder of his term.
Recent Results And Next Steps
In June, Wahab outpaced her nearest rival, former Dublin mayor Melissa Hernandez, by more than 20 percentage points in both the primary and in the special election to complete Swalwell’s term. The two candidates will meet in a runoff later this month and again in November for the full term.
Where The Money Is Going
According to reporting by Politico, Super PACs have recently spent more than $5 million in the race on ads that both promote Hernandez and attack Wahab. That total includes roughly $1.2 million from United Democracy Project, an organization backed by Aipac, and about $2.1 million from Bold America PAC, which has received substantial funding from United Democracy Project.
Track Aipac, which monitors the group’s political contributions, reported that Aipac-aligned funding supporting Hernandez exceeds $4.4 million in the race.
Broader Context
Aipac has sharply increased its political spending in recent years. The New York Times recently reported that the organization has doubled its political expenditures and now spends roughly $67.2 million, with a notable focus on Democratic primaries. These expanded investments are part of a wider trend of influential outside groups increasingly targeting intra-party contests.
Responses From Candidates
Wahab has publicly pushed back against the negative advertising, urging voters to ask questions about her record and accusing Hernandez of avoiding debates while "relying on dark money" to finance her campaign. "We're not going to let this race be bought by outside interests," she said in a social media video.
Reporting note: The Guardian has reached out to Aipac and to the campaigns of Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez for comment.
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