Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories that will appear this week on the primary elections in California. The stories include comments from candidates who agreed to interviews with The Center Square.
(The Center Square) – Candidates in California’s 14th Congressional District are working hard to get out the vote ahead of a special election.
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat who held that seat, was running for governor until he dropped out of that race and resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives over sexual assault allegations.
Democrats want to keep this district in their hands as part of a broader effort to win control of the House in 2026.
Democrats on the ballot include state Sen. Aisha Wahab of Hayward, San Leandro City Councilmember Victor Aguilar Jr., businesswoman and nonprofit director Carin Elam, healthcare services director Melissa Hernandez, graphic designer Matt Ortega and educator Rakhi Israni.
“While I’ve not run for office, I’ve actually been very active in the community, and I’ve served on the PTA at every level of my kids’ schooling, as well as in a lot of regional activities to promote educational policies that uplift a lot of kids,” Israni told The Center Square.
When asked about President Donald Trump’s efforts to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education, Israni said it does not serve the public interest well.
While she said the educational system needs reform, Israni said Americans need to make sure that schools have the resources to be able to serve our student population. “We’re tailoring the education in a way that creates opportunities, creates hope for the kids, and that promotes better educational outcomes across the country.”
That includes students in the Bay Area, which is also reeling from the affordability crisis.
“The cost of living is out of control,” said Israni. “The three biggest ticket items are going to be housing, healthcare and childcare, and if we can tackle these three to start with, then we alleviate a lot of the pressures that are on our families across the board, so those have to be a priority from day one.”
Republicans Dena Maldonado and Wendy Huang are hoping to win the seat for the GOP. Huang is a retired tech executive. Maldonado is a florist. This is Maldonado’s first time running for office, and she too wants to tackle issues such as affordability.
“The cost of living is pushing me out of California as a native,” Maldonado told The Center Square.
Maldonado is also frustrated that working class people have little help while things are “being given away to illegals and people that don’t work.”
Asked about President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts to combat illegal immigration, Maldonado said she has felt unsafe at times as a woman.
“I do believe that we need to have legal immigration, and people cannot just come here by breaking the law first,” said Maldonado. “I support legal citizenship, and I support us clearing out. We had too many people moving into this country and not assimilating.”
Huang is another candidate in favor of cracking down on illegal immigration.
The Taiwanese native said you wouldn’t allow people who break inside your home to stay, and the country should be no different.
“It’s time, as Americans, as immigrants who are truly grateful for this country and were able to achieve the American dream, to step up now,” said Huang.
Like Maldonado, Huang is also concerned about affordability, especially for young Americans.
“I was able to buy my first house at the age of 26, not with taxpayer’s assistance, and my son is in his 20s,” said Huang, who ran unsuccessfully in 2024 for Union City City Council. “When he was applying for college as a senior in high school, he asked me what major to apply for and asked, ‘Will I be able to afford to live here?’”
Huang also voiced concerns about a constitutional crisis, the debt crisis and fraud. Huang said Americans’ First Amendment freedoms involving speech and worship are under attack. When it comes to the debt, Huang said the burden on every taxpayer is unsustainable. Meanwhile, Huang said billions of dollars have been lost due to waste, fraud and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs.
The Center Square reached out to Wahab, Aguilar, Elam, Hernandez and Ortega, but they did not respond by press time.
The Special Primary Election for California Congressional District 14 is June 16. The Special General Election is scheduled for Aug. 18. Early election results will appear on both nights at www.thecentersquare.com/california.
More information is available on the California Secretary of State’s website, sos.ca.gov.
