California state senator Aisha Wahab won the Democratic congressional primary in the state's 14th district, defeating moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez 53%-47%. Wahab, who will become the first Afghan-American in Congress, has accused Israel of genocide and called for halting U.S. military aid, while also affirming Israel's right to exist and opposing antisemitism. Hernandez had received over $2.5 million from the pro-Israel AIPAC lobby.
The Zioneer reports: California state senator Aisha Wahab won the Democratic primary in the state's 14th congressional district, according to results. She defeated moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez 53%-47%, a race in which Hernandez was supported by over $2.5 million from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.
Wahab's victory adds to a pattern The Zioneer has covered throughout this primary cycle. In August, Angie Nixon, a socialist pro-Palestinian candidate, won the Democratic Senate primary in Florida. In July, Abdul El-Sayed, who has refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, won the Michigan Senate primary. In June, pro-Palestine organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated a five-term incumbent in a New York congressional primary, and Rashida Tlaib secured her Michigan district's primary. Also in June, Janeese Lewis George, an anti-Israel socialist, took the lead in the DC mayoral primary.
Wahab will become the first Afghan-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called for ending U.S. military aid, while also stating that she recognizes Israel's right to exist and opposes antisemitism. The broader implications for Jewish community relations and U.S.-Israel policy remain to be seen.
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