U.S. House, California 14th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 14th Congressional District?
Aisha Wahab has the strongest record in California's 14th Congressional District. Aisha Wahab scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Melissa Hernandez at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Aisha Wahab's highest marks are roots in the constituency and showing up. Melissa Hernandez's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Melissa Hernandez
56 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Aisha Wahab
67 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Melissa Hernandez
- On the record2024-05
In May 2024 the BART board appointed Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez to its vacant District 5 seat from a pool of three candidates; she resigned as mayor.
Source: Pleasanton Weekly, May 23, 2024
Aisha Wahab
- Unresolved2026-08
In August 2026 Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley filed an FEC complaint alleging her congressional campaign received an illegal, unreported in-kind contribution via the county Democratic Party; she called it a political stunt.
Where it stands: Filed August 2026; no FEC finding or public action as of 2026-10-09. As of 2026-10-09 no closed FEC matter names Wahab; the FEC does not confirm complaints until they are closed.
Sources: Semafor, Aug. 12, 2026, Pleasanton Weekly, Aug. 2026, FEC closed Matters Under Review search
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Melissa Hernandez. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 7, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Aisha Wahab. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 7, 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found. An FEC complaint filed against her in August 2026 is unresolved and not scored.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Committee on Ethics site search, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Melissa Hernandez. Took part in an April 2026 debate with Wahab before the special primary.
Source: JTA, Aug. 18, 2026
Aisha Wahab. Took part in an April 2026 debate and candidate forum before the special primary.
Source: JTA, Aug. 18, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Melissa Hernandez. Served as Dublin mayor from 2020 to 2024 and on the BART board since 2024, chairing regional transit boards. No formal conduct finding found.
Source: BART news article, Oct. 9, 2024
Aisha Wahab. Served on the Hayward City Council from 2018 to 2022 and in the state Senate from 2022 to 2026, and in the House since September 2026. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Aisha Wahab, House Committee on Ethics site search
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Melissa Hernandez. Has held sworn local office as Dublin mayor and BART director. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action on certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Melissa Hernandez
Aisha Wahab. Has held sworn local, state and federal office since 2018. Took her House seat Sept. 2, 2026; no misuse-of-office finding and no recorded action on certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Melissa Hernandez. Elected mayor of Dublin, then appointed to the BART Board of Directors in May 2024; earlier a small business manager in the dental and health sectors.
Sources: Pleasanton Weekly, May 23, 2024, Campaign site, Meet Melissa
Aisha Wahab. One four-year term in the California Senate (2022 to 2026), four years on the Hayward City Council, and a House member since September 2026.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Melissa Hernandez. Publishes issue positions on cost of living, public safety, housing, childcare, health care, immigration, climate and technology, mostly in general terms.
Aisha Wahab. Chaired the state Senate Housing Committee from 2025 and publishes specific federal proposals, such as a nationwide junk-fee ban. No House committee assignment is listed yet.
Sources: Wikipedia, Aisha Wahab, Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Melissa Hernandez. Publishes plain-language issue pages and took part in a 2026 debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, JTA, Aug. 18, 2026, Ballotpedia, Melissa Hernandez
Aisha Wahab. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes issue pages, offers an e-newsletter and took part in a 2026 debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Aisha Wahab, Office site, home page, Campaign site, Issues, JTA, Aug. 18, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Melissa Hernandez. Says she has lived in Dublin for more than 30 years and served as its mayor. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 55 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Melissa, BART news article, Oct. 9, 2024, FEC contribution totals by state
Aisha Wahab. Raised in Fremont after adoption as an infant and later lived in Hayward, both in the district, where she served on the city council. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 88 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Wikipedia, Aisha Wahab, Ballotpedia, Aisha Wahab, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Melissa Hernandez. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 7, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Aisha Wahab. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 7, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates her Meets Expectations in the state Senate for 2023 to 2024, ninth in the chamber, with 21 bills becoming law. No House score yet.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislative scores
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. Missed 0 of 22 roll call votes from September 2026, her first month in the House.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. Lists a district office in Castro Valley and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Melissa Hernandez. No public record found.
Aisha Wahab. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in California's 14th Congressional District?
Aisha Wahab has the strongest record in California's 14th Congressional District. Aisha Wahab scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Melissa Hernandez at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Aisha Wahab's highest marks are roots in the constituency and showing up. Melissa Hernandez's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 14th Congressional District in 2026?
Melissa Hernandez (Democratic), Aisha Wahab (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Melissa Hernandez a good candidate for Congress?
Melissa Hernandez scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Aisha Wahab a good candidate for Congress?
Aisha Wahab scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.