3 highlights from Tuesday's primary elections
3. Race to replace Eric Swalwell advances to a runoff
While nearly all of the races that took place on Tuesday were regularly scheduled primaries and runoffs, there was one notable exception. That is the special election to fill the vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives caused by the resignation of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.
Voters in California’s 14th Congressional District headed to the polls Tuesday to select his replacement, who will finish the remainder of his term.
Unofficial results show Democrat Aisha Wahab taking 42.4% in Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary, where all candidates appeared together on the same ballot regardless of partisan affiliation. Wahab’s performance has secured her a spot in the general election, which will take place Aug. 18.
Which candidate joins Wahab in the general election remains to be seen, although it looks likely that she will face another Democrat. Democrat Melissa Hernandez is currently at 16.7% of the vote, with Democrat Rakhi Singh taking 13.2%. With or without a Republican in the race, the special general election is expected to favor Democrats, as Democrat Kamala Harris won California’s 14th Congressional District by 36 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
The special election is separate from the regularly scheduled election for a full two-year term, where Wahab and Hernandez have advanced. The makeup of the district changed slightly as a result of mid-decade redistricting. The special election is taking place under the old lines, while the regularly scheduled election in November will be held in the new district, which Harris won by 34 percentage points.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
