Aisha Wahab

Aisha Wahab (born 1987/1988) is an American politician who has been a member of the California State Senate from the 10th district since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first Muslim elected to the State Senate and either chamber of the California State Legislature.[1] Wahab served on the Hayward City Council from 2018 to 2022 and was one of the first Afghan-Americans elected to public office, alongside New Hampshire state representative Safiya Wazir.[2]

Aisha Wahab
Member of the California Senate
from the 10th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byBob Wieckowski
Member of the Hayward City Council
In office
December 11, 2018 – December 5, 2022
Preceded byMarvin Peixoto
Succeeded byGeorge Syrop
ConstituencyAt-large
Personal details
Born1987/1988 (age 35–36)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceHayward, California
EducationSan Jose State University (BA)
California State University, East Bay (MBA)

Early life and education

Wahab was born in Queens, New York City, to refugees who fled Afghanistan in the 1980s. Her father was murdered and her mother died soon after, leaving Wahab and her sister in foster care. They were adopted by an Afghan couple in Fremont, California, and moved to Hayward after the 2008 Financial Crisis[2]

Wahab earned a Bachelor's degree in political science at San Jose State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Cal State East Bay. She went on to work in non-profit organizations and is currently an IT consultant.[3]

Career

Hayward City Council

Wahab was the top vote-getter in a field of seven candidates vying for an at-large city council seat, beating out two incumbents.[3] Along with New Hampshire State Representative Safiya Wazir, Wahab was the first Afghan-American elected to public office.[2]

Tenure

California State Assembly member Bill Quirk recognized Wahab as Woman of the Year from District 20 in 2019.[4]

2020 Congressional campaign
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 15

After incumbent U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell announced he would run in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Wahab announced she would run for California's 15th congressional district in 2020.[5] Her support for progressive policies such as Medicare for All and identity as a millennial women of color led to comparisons to freshman representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[6] Swalwell decided to run for re-election after ending his presidential campaign, leading Wahab to suspend her campaign 3 weeks later.[7]

2022 California State Senate campaign
See also: 2022 California State Senate election § District 10

Wahab announced she would run for California's 10th State Senate district, incumbent State Senator Bob Wieckowski was term-limited. She noted the housing crisis and stagnating wages as issues she would focus on. California State Assembly member Alex Lee and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission Ann Ravel backed her campaign.[8] She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

References
  1. "Hayward city council member Aisha Wahab becomes 1st Muslim, Afghan American elected to CA senate". ABC7 San Francisco. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. Tavares, Steven (February 6, 2019). "Aisha Wahab Made History". East Bay Express. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  3. Fost, Dan (March 21, 2019). "One of the First". East Bay Today. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  4. "Assemblymember Quirk recognized Honorable Aisha Wahab as his 2019 Woman of the Year". March 6, 2019.
  5. Nielson, Katie (April 13, 2019). "Hayward City Councilwoman Aisha Wahab Running For Eric Swalwell's House Seat". KPIX-TV. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  6. Tolan, Casey (April 12, 2019). "Hayward council member Aisha Wahab runs for Eric Swalwell's open congressional seat in what could be crowded race". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  7. Peele, Thomas (July 29, 2019). "Hayward council member suspends challenge against Rep. Swalwell". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  8. Herrera, Sonya (June 18, 2021). "Aisha Wahab looks to break barriers in Sacramento". San José Spotlight. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
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