Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · California's 14th District

2 candidates on the ballot.1

How this race is decided: Under California's top-two system, only the two candidates who received the most votes in the June 2, 2026, primary, regardless of party preference, appear on this general-election ballot.1,2

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Melissa Hernandez
Democratic · Challenger
Aisha Wahab
Democratic · Incumbent
Currently represents California's 14th District in the U.S. House.

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Melissa HernandezAisha Wahab
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,3Democratic1,3
StatusChallengerIncumbent4
Raised$2,112,674 through October 14, 20265$1,214,547 through October 14, 20266
Cash on hand$108,3585$462,3226
Outside spending$4,286,570 for · $410,300 against7$844,975 for · $2,855,331 against8
Who sets abortion law
A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
Her campaign website says she would work to restore reproductive freedom by supporting legislation such as the Women's Health Protection Act.9		Her campaign website, in a civil rights section that cites the rollback of Roe v. Wade, says she would protect reproductive health care nationwide by stopping federal bans and keeping contraception and family planning available.10,11
Police fundingHer campaign website says she would give police, firefighters and emergency responders the training, staffing and resources they need, and invest in mental health crisis response so police are not the only option.9Her campaign website says she would support law enforcement with resources, staffing and training paired with clear standards, and fund community violence prevention and mental health crisis response.10
Paid family and medical leaveHer campaign website says she supports paid family and medical leave.9Her campaign website says she would expand paid family leave.10,11
Help for first-time homebuyersHer campaign website says she would make it easier for first-time homebuyers to afford a down payment and get a home loan, and would provide incentives to build new housing and lower the cost of raw materials.9Her campaign website says she would create a down-payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, and lists among her State Senate accomplishments securing $300 million for down-payment assistance for first-time buyers.10,11
Social Security benefit levelsHer campaign website says she would protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts.9Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security from privatization and cuts and strengthen benefits for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and children.10,11

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Melissa Hernandez — 8 issues
  • Cryptocurrency rules
    Her campaign website says she supports clear rules for cryptocurrency and other financial technologies that give innovators regulatory certainty and protect consumers from scams and fraud.9
  • Federal workforce and job protections
    Her campaign website says she supports legislation reversing staff cuts at the EPA and the Department of Transportation.9
  • Clean energy tax credits
    Restore the credits the 2025 law ended or cut back
    Her campaign website says she supports legislation to fully restore the Inflation Reduction Act and a shift toward a range of renewable energy sources.9
  • Child tax credit
    Her campaign website says she supports expanding the Child Tax Credit and recruiting, training and paying child care workers more.9
  • ACA premium tax credits
    Her campaign website says she would restore the insurance subsidies that lower premiums and restore funding for health programs serving vulnerable families.9
  • Immigration enforcement inside the country
    Her campaign website says ICE needs fundamental reform and is deporting immigrants who contribute to their communities, many of whom are already going through the legal immigration process, and that she supports border security and regional cooperation on the causes of migration.9
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
    Her campaign website says she supports a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and for undocumented residents who already contribute to the economy.9
  • State AI laws
    Override state AI laws with a single national approach
    Her campaign website says she supports federal standards for artificial intelligence rather than a patchwork of 50 state laws.9
Aisha Wahab — 18 issues
  • Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
    Her campaign website says she would strengthen enforcement against discrimination in housing, employment, education and health care and protect civil liberties regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or immigration status.10,11
  • Federal minimum wage
    Her campaign website says she would raise the federal minimum wage so work pays enough to live on.10,11
  • Small business loans and programs
    Her campaign website says she would give small businesses targeted tax relief and credits, cut red tape and expand support for startups and first-time entrepreneurs, especially women-, immigrant- and minority-owned businesses.10,11
  • Student loan forgiveness
    Broad cancellation of student debt
    Her campaign website says she would cancel student debt and stop predatory student lending.11
  • Tuition-free college
    Free tuition at community colleges
    Her campaign website says she would provide free tuition for community college, trades and occupational training.11
  • US Department of Education
    Her campaign website says she would protect Title I and IDEA funding and expand tutoring, after-school and summer programs.10,11
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    Her campaign website says she would ban congressional stock trading and insider trading and tighten rules on lobbyists.11
  • Child care costs
    Her campaign website says she would expand universal child care, after-school programs and family tax relief.10,11
  • Food assistance (SNAP)
    Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
    Her campaign website says she would restore and protect SNAP and other food assistance.11
  • Foreign aid
    Her campaign website says the United States should invest in diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and international partnerships before turning to military force.10
  • Military spending
    Her campaign website says military spending should get the same scrutiny as the rest of the federal budget and that money spent on endless wars should go to needs at home.10,11
  • Who decides on military action
    Require Congress to approve military action in advance, except to defend against an attack
    Her campaign website says Congress has the responsibility to debate and authorize war, that no president should have unlimited authority to commit troops, and that unauthorized air campaigns should stop.10
  • Federal Medicaid funding
    Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
    Her campaign website says she would defend Medicare and Medicaid from cuts and restore funding for programs including Medicaid and SNAP.11
  • Health insurance system
    One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
    Her campaign website says she would pass Medicare for All and move toward universal, affordable health care.10,11
  • Large investors buying single-family homes
    Her campaign website says she would stop Wall Street and private equity firms from buying up single-family homes.10
  • Highway and transit funding
    Her campaign website says she would repair roads and bridges and fund robust public transit to reduce traffic, pollution and household transportation costs.11
  • Taxes on very large fortunes
    Under a heading on a wealth tax, her campaign website says billionaires should pay their fair share in taxes and loopholes should be closed.10
  • High-speed internet access
    Her campaign website says she would provide high-speed internet nationwide and treat broadband as basic infrastructure.10,11

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.