Who is Aisha Wahab?
Aisha Wahab (born January 11, 1987) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has made history at every stage of her career. She has served as a California State Senator representing the 10th district since December 2022, becoming the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California State Senate. In August 2026, she won the special election for California’s 14th congressional district, making her the first Afghan American elected to the United States Congress.
Early Life & Education
Wahab was born in Queens, New York City, to refugees who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s. Her life took a tragic turn early on — her father was murdered shortly after her birth, and her mother died soon after, leaving Wahab and her sister in foster care. She was later adopted by an Afghan couple in Fremont, California, where she was raised.
She graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Fremont and Ohlone College before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Jose State University in 2010. She went on to receive an MBA from California State University, East Bay in 2013, and completed a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at the University of Southern California in 2024.
Political Career
Wahab entered politics in 2018 when she won a seat on the Hayward City Council as the top vote-getter, becoming one of the first Afghan-American women elected to public office in the United States. She served one term from 2018 to 2022.
In 2022, she ran for the California State Senate’s 10th district seat and defeated Fremont mayor Lily Mei in the general election. As a state senator, she has focused on housing, tenant protections, foster youth welfare, public safety, and labor rights. In 2023, she authored SB 403, a landmark bill to prohibit caste discrimination, which passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. In 2025, she was named chair of the Senate Housing Committee.
In 2026, after Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress, Wahab ran in the special election for California’s 14th congressional district. She defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in the August 18 runoff with 53.1% of the vote.
Personal Life
Wahab is a renter based in Hayward, California. Her own experience in foster care has shaped much of her policy work — she led a successful push for a state audit of Alameda County’s child welfare system and continues to advocate for foster youth.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Aisha Wahab
- Born: January 11, 1987 (age 39), Queens, New York
- Party: Democratic
- Education: BA – San Jose State University; MBA – Cal State East Bay; DSW – USC
- Position: California State Senator (District 10); U.S. Representative-elect (CA-14)
