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Educator and nonprofit attorney Rakhi Israni has reported running a campaign more expensive this year than all other competitors combined in the race for a full term representing Congressional District 14.
Those vying for the seat are Democrats Aisha Wahab, Melissa Hernandez, Carin Elam, Israni, Matt Ortega and Victor Aguilar Jr.; Republicans Wendy Huang and Dena Maldonado as well as newcomer Suzanne Chenault who is listed as having no party preference.
The top two finishers in the primary election June 2 will face off in the November general election to represent areas including Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Hayward, Union City and Fairview and parts of Fremont, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley and Mountain House.
The post was previously held by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in mid-April amid allegations of sexual misconduct. A separate special primary election will be held on June 16 with many of the same candidates competing to complete Swalwell’s unexpired term through 2026.Â
Ahead of the regular primary election, the last pre-primary financial reports covering April 1 to May 13 were due last week to the Federal Election Commission.
Spanning Jan. 1 to May 13, Israni’s campaign has received about $2,167,000 and spent about $1,060,000.
Meanwhile, the eight other candidates raised a combined total of about $955,000 and spent about $479,000.
The campaign of Hernandez, the former Dublin mayor and current BART board president, reported receiving about $441,000 and expending about $198,000.
Wahab, a state senator who earned the California Democratic Party’s endorsement, reported receiving about $416,000 with $198,000 in expenditures.
Among the others, Ortega’s campaign reported receiving about $34,000 and spending about $28,000, Huang’s campaign reported receiving about $34,000 and spending $26,000, and Elam’s campaign reported pulling about $31,000 and spending about $30,000.
Bolstering Israni’s fundraising was a $1.2 million loan she took out for her campaign. Also loaning money to their campaigns were Elam ($25,000), Wahab ($38,500) and Huang ($23,000).
Candidates Aguilar, Maldonado and Chenault have no reported receipts or disbursements.
Since the coverage period ending May 13, the campaigns of Israni, Hernandez and Wahab have reported additional contributions.
As for the special primary election, repeat candidates include Hernandez, Israni, Wahab, Huang and Maldonado. Additional candidates are Democrats Alisha Cordes, Sheriene Ridenour and Jot Thiara; Republicans Tom Wong and Jack Wu; and Victor Zevallos, who has declared no party preference.
Although campaign finances for the general and special elections were combined on the pre-primary election financial report, the Pleasanton Weekly culled the data to compare solely the general election finances.
Huang experienced technical difficulties in submitting the pre-election financial report, she told the FEC in a report. She mailed the report past the mailing deadline.
Former prospective candidate Abrar Qadir reported the receipt of about $27,000 and the expenditure of about $26,000 from July 1, 2025 to April 15, 2026.
