Super PACs linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have poured more than $5 million into California’s 14th Congressional District race in recent weeks to oppose progressive state Senator Aisha Wahab and boost fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez ahead of an August 18 runoff election.
The spending includes $1.2 million from United Democracy Project, an AIPAC-backed PAC, which disclosed $800,000 in ads attacking Wahab. Bold America PAC, which has received significant backing from the United Democracy Project, has spent over $555,000 on TV and digital ads criticizing Wahab’s voting record on public safety and more than $1.6 million supporting Hernandez, according to Politico.
Wahab won the June special primary by more than 20 points and entered the runoff as the overwhelming favorite. She is the first Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to the California state legislature. Hernandez is the president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board and a former Dublin mayor. The race fills the seat vacated by Eric Swalwell, who resigned earlier this year following sexual assault allegations.
The flood of outside money into a Democratic-on-Democratic contest represents the latest chapter in AIPAC’s unprecedented expansion into electoral politics. According to the New York Times, AIPAC has doubled its spending to $67.2 million this cycle, largely in Democratic primaries. The organization spent roughly $30 million in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary in a losing effort to defeat progressive Abdul El-Sayed, who ultimately won that race in what observers described as a defining test of the party’s ideological direction.
Wahab has characterized the ad campaign as election interference rooted in her past criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. “They seem to have more money than God,” she told Politico. “On every single credential, I am the most qualified. So what’s the elephant in the room? At the end of the day, all I can say is that it’s based on prejudice and racism.”
Hernandez’s campaign and the supporting PACs have focused on Wahab’s voting record, arguing she has been soft on crime. They cite her opposition to a bipartisan bill increasing sentences for fentanyl dealers and her votes on penalties for sex trafficking. Wahab has called these characterizations “misinformation,” noting her legislative work on behalf of trafficking victims and sexual assault survivors.
Wahab’s endorsements include the California Democratic Party, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the Alameda County Sheriff. The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC also endorsed her. She has emphasized her personal history—her father was murdered when she was a child, and she grew up in foster care—as evidence of her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations.
Campaign manager Ajay Mohan for Hernandez said in a statement: “Melissa does not control independent expenditures. No candidate does. That is the law, and she sees those ads when you see them. Melissa remains laser focused on lowering the costs of housing and healthcare, and supporting strong public safety.”
A third PAC, Safer Alameda County PAC, has also spent money opposing Wahab but has not yet disclosed its donors. The combined spending from all outside groups supporting Hernandez exceeds $4.4 million, according to Track AIPAC, which monitors the organization’s political spending.
Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the progressive Working Families Party, told Politico the race represents another test of the populist left’s influence within the Democratic Party. “They are targeting Aisha to try to balance the scales and show that they can still be competitive in California elections,” he said. “This populist moment was inevitable.”
Sources
- The Guardian — Super PAC spending breakdown, Wahab’s background, and quotes from her and Hernandez’s campaign
- Politico California Playbook — Detailed analysis of the $5 million spending, United Democracy Project and Bold America PAC expenditures, quotes from Wahab and campaign officials, and context on AIPAC’s 2026 strategy
- GVWire — Confirmation of Super PAC spending figures and PAC names
- New York Times — AIPAC’s overall 2026 spending ($67.2 million) and Michigan race precedent
- Ballotpedia — Confirmation of election date (August 18, 2026) and primary results
- FactCheck.org — United Democracy Project background and spending history
