2026 California's 14th congressional district special election
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June 16, 2026
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California's 14th congressional district | |||
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The 2026 California's 14th congressional district special election will be held on August 18, 2026, to fill the vacant seat in California's 14th congressional district left by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April after facing allegations of sexual misconduct. The primary election will be held on June 16, 2026. If one of the candidates receives a majority of the vote, they will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 119th United States Congress. Otherwise, a runoff between the top-two finishers will be held on August 18.[1]
The regular primary election will be held on June 2, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3, 2026.
Incumbent Representative Eric Swalwell did not seek re-election in 2026 and instead ran for governor of California. In April 2026, he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from several women.[2] Amid growing calls for him to withdraw, he suspended his gubernatorial campaign on April 12.[3] The following day, he announced his pending resignation from Congress,[4] which was filed and took effect on April 14.[5]
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on April 14 that the special election would be held on August 18,[6] but California special election rules state that the first round will be held on June 16.[citation needed] Over half of the unofficial candidates in the special election also filed to run in the regularly-scheduled election for California's 14th congressional district. April 23 was the filing deadline for candidates in the special election.[7]
Nonpartisan blanket primary
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Alisha Cordes (Democratic)[8]
- Melissa Hernandez (Democratic), Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors District 5[8]
- Wendy Huang (Republican), retired tech executive[8]
- Dena Maldonado (Republican), florist[8]
- Sheriene Ridenour (Democratic), administrative law judge[8]
- Rakhi Israni Singh (Democratic), attorney[8]
- Jot Thiara (Democratic), businessman and Republican candidate for CA-01 in the 2026 special election[8]
- Aisha Wahab (Democratic), state senator from the 10th district (2022–present) and candidate for this district in 2020 and 2026[8]
- Tom Wong (No party preference), small business owner and Republican candidate for this district in 2022[8]
- Jack Wu (Republican)[8]
- Victor Zevallos (No party preference), financial business strategist[8]
Declined
- Victor Aguilar Jr. (Democratic), San Leandro city councilor (2018–present) (endorsed Wieckowski)[9]
- Carin Elam (Democratic), nonprofit founder (endorsed Wieckowski)[9]
- Steve Glazer (Democratic), former state senator from the 7th district (2015–2024) and candidate for California state controller in 2022 (endorsed Wieckowski)[10]
- Matt Ortega (Democratic), former digital director for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign (endorsed Wieckowski)[9]
- Bob Wieckowski (Democratic), former state senator from the 10th district (2014–2022) and candidate for this district in 2020[9]
Endorsements
- U.S. representatives
- Zoe Lofgren, CA-18 (1995–present)[9]
- State legislators
- Steve Glazer (Democratic), former state senator from SD-07 (2015–2024)[10]