Mohsin Dawar, leader of Pakistan’s National Democratic Movement, has congratulated Aisha Wahab on her historic election to the US House of Representatives, describing her victory as a moment of pride for Afghans around the world, particularly Afghanistan’s women.
Dawar wrote on X on Saturday that Wahab’s victory was an unprecedented achievement and a historic moment demonstrating the ability and potential of Afghan women.
“This unprecedented victory is a historic achievement and a great moment of pride and honor for Afghans around the world, especially Afghan women,” Dawar wrote.
Wahab, a Democratic state senator from California, won a special election for the state’s 14th Congressional District, defeating fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez. She will complete the remaining term of former US Representative Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress in April. Wahab will serve in the House through January 2027.
With more than 95% of ballots counted, Wahab won about 53% of the vote, compared with roughly 47% for Hernandez, according to Reuters. The two candidates are expected to face each other again in November for a full two-year congressional term under new district boundaries.
Wahab’s victory makes her the first Afghan American to serve in the US Congress. She was previously the first Afghan American and first Muslim woman elected to the California Legislature. She entered politics through the Hayward City Council before winning election to the California Senate in 2022.
Her path to Congress has also drawn attention to her personal background. Wahab and her sister spent time in foster care after their father was killed and their mother died, before they were adopted by an Afghan couple in California’s Bay Area. She has described her journey from foster care to Congress as an example of the possibilities of the American Dream.
