Aisha Wahab plans to file an FEC complaint over alleged social media interference during the congressional race against Melissa Hernandez
State Senator Aisha Wahab announced her intention to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding what she described as coordinated social media interference. The complaint follows a surge of suspicious accounts and bot-like activity that her campaign alleges is being used to spread misleading narratives during the special election to replace former Representative Eric Swalwell. While Wahab led in the June primaries, Melissa Hernandez has gained significant momentum through over $5 million in outside spending, much of which is backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Wahab's campaign is currently investigating whether these digital efforts constitute an organized, paid effort that should have been reported under federal campaign-finance law. The race features a high level of outside influence, with Hernandez receiving substantial support from pro-Israel interests and out-of-state donors. Wahab, who campaigned against corporate money, has defended her record against accusations of hypocrisy from Hernandez's team, who highlighted her previous corporate donations. Both candidates will face off again in the November runoff election.